By Njeri Irungu.
Building in Kenya just got a whole lot easier.
Jumba, Africa’s largest digital marketplace for construction materials, has launched a new mobile application that promises to revolutionize how Kenyans buy building supplies. The Jumba App, unveiled at a colourful event at Nairobi’s Serena Hotel, aims to address one of the construction industry’s biggest pain points — the endless search for fair prices, dependable suppliers, and deliveries that arrive when promised.
For years, developers, contractors, and homeowners have faced the same frustrations — chasing multiple quotes, juggling suppliers, and watching projects stall because materials failed to arrive on time. The new Jumba App changes that narrative. With just a few taps, users can now browse a wide range of verified suppliers, compare real-time prices, and place orders from the convenience of their phones. From cement to tiles, steel to paint, the app offers everything a builder needs under one digital roof.
“Our mission is simple — to make building easy,” said Kagure Wamunyu, CEO and Co-Founder of Jumba, during the launch. “Whether you’re a developer overseeing several projects, a homeowner putting up your first house, or a Kenyan in the diaspora building a home back home, Jumba gives you the confidence that what you order is what you get — on time and at the right price.”
The launch brought together industry leaders, government representatives, and leading suppliers including Crown Paints, Tuff Steel, Tononoka, Jumbo Steel, Comply Industries, Abyssinia, Mzito, National Cement, Dewalt, Blue Nile, and Bamburi, alongside contractors and homeowners eager to experience what many called “the future of construction sourcing.”
The app’s promise lies in its simplicity and transparency. Users can instantly compare prices across trusted suppliers, eliminating the guesswork that often leads to inflated costs. Its integrated logistics ensure that deliveries arrive on time and in full, helping projects stay on schedule and within budget. And because it’s mobile, builders can place orders from anywhere — whether they’re at a construction site, at home, or halfway across the world.
Currently, the app serves users within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area, but Jumba plans to expand across Kenya’s 47 counties in the coming months. The company says this rollout is part of its broader goal to build Africa’s most trusted and efficient construction supply network — one that saves time, cuts costs, and drives progress.
The launch of the Jumba App also marks a milestone in the company’s growth journey. As mobile internet usage rises across the continent, Jumba is leveraging technology to meet customers where they are — online and on the move. The app not only streamlines sourcing but also builds trust through verified listings, transparent data, and a seamless ordering experience.
For Kagure and her team, the app is not just a tool but a movement. “We’re transforming how Africa builds,” she said. “We want to ensure that anyone — whether they’re constructing a skyscraper or their family home — can access the right materials, at the right price, delivered at the right time.”
Founded in 2022, Jumba began as a business-to-business marketplace connecting developers and contractors to suppliers of structural materials. It has since evolved into a comprehensive platform serving both businesses and individual homeowners. The company was born out of a simple but powerful realization: that 90 percent of homes in Africa are built, not bought — yet the construction supply chain remains fragmented, opaque, and inefficient.
Under Kagure’s leadership — drawing from her experience as Uber’s former Country Manager for Kenya — Jumba is applying the same digital efficiency that transformed mobility to an industry that touches nearly every Kenyan family. With each new innovation, the company is helping to build not just homes and offices, but also a smarter, more connected future for Africa’s construction sector.
