Kenya Building Research Centre (KBRC) is one of the institutions domiciled under the State
Department for Housing and Urban Development. The Executive Order No.1 of May 2016
reinforces the institutions mandate to spearhead the Building Research Services in Kenya.
This inaugural Strategic Plan provides a coherent, systematic and sustainable roadmap
towards achievement of its functions, mandate and objectives. The proposed measures
and activities are expected to play a key role in the realisation of the national development
goals.

The Centre was established in 1957 with three mandates for specific use by the Building
Branch of the then Public Works Department. These were;

1. A library of manufacturer’s trade catalogues and Literature;
2. A library of samples of building materials; and
3. A Technical Reference Library