Every few months, we wake up to the same headlines-collapsed buildings, cracked roads, and washed-out bridges. The conversation quickly turns to who approved the project, but rarely to what lay beneath it. The truth is that many of these failures begin long before the first brick is laid-when we ignore the ground itself.
Across Kenya and much of the developing world, ground science and engineering assessment remain the most undervalued elements of infrastructure planning.
The subsurface -where soil, rock, and groundwater interact-determines whether a structure will last decades or fail after a single season. Yet, in many projects, site investigations are treated as an afterthought, rather than a foundation for design and safety. In my work as a professional engineer, geoscientist, and project management professional, I have seen how early attention to the ground transforms outcomes.
On major infrastructure projects in Canada, Asia, and East Africa, design begins with a thorough understanding of local geology. This upfront investment consistently reduces risks, shortens construction timelines, and saves enormous costs that would otherwise go into repairs and litigation.
By contrast, when ground studies are rushed or omitted, problems emerge later in the form of foundation settlement, cracking, or drainage failure.
We then blame contractors or design teams, when the real issue often lies in the systemic neglect of subsurface science. Studies show that up to 20 percent of infrastructure spending in developing regions is lost to premature failure and repair – a burden that taxpayers ultimately bear.
Three issues drive this pattern. First, ground data is undervalued- investigations rarely exceed three percent of project cost, yet they determine structural integrity.
Second, coordination is weak-engineers, planners, and geologists often work in isolation. Finally, enforcement is inconsistent, even where regulations require engineering assessments.
To change this, Kenya must place engineering geology and geotechnical insight at the centre of infrastructure policy.
That means mandating thorough ground investigations before design approval, promoting the use of modern assessment technologies, and building stronger collaboration between engineers and geoscientists. Policymakers must also recognise that the earth beneath us is a living system – it shifts, absorbs water, and responds to stress. Ignoring these realities guarantees failure.
Infrastructure is the backbone of our economy, but foundations are its heartbeat. Until we start building with the ground – not against it – we will keep rebuilding what should never have failed.