Kenya adopts Hesco fencing.

By Njoroge Kaburo.
United Nations in Northern Kenya has embarked on a construction of 1.154 kilometer perimeter wall with the most modern gabion structured fence to enhance around the clock security in its bureau.
The fence, constructed around its newly put up offices in Ali Njugun, Hagadera Division, 47 Kilometres from Dadaab Refugees camp is one of its kind in Kenya and most apposite for terror hit areas.  

Workers erect Hesco fence around the newly built United Nations offices at Al jugur division in Dadaab. Hesco fence is preferred to conventional fencing for its security given the frequent terror attack in the area.

“Hesco barrier structure is basically designed for Military fortification and Flood control and therefore it is most suitable for such regions (North-Eastern) owing to its current rapid terror attacks,” says Engineer James Mwaniki, a Civil engineer and hesco consultant in Dadaab.


Hesco is made of 3mm-5mm diameter collapsible wire mesh containers and heavy duty fabric liner which can either be used in separate cells or in some occasions, cells are joined together. Assembling the Hesco bastion entails unfolding it and filling it with sand, dirt or gravel according to preference.

Hesco fence’s popularity is mostly owed to its the quick and easy setup, hence it is most preferred by troops and flood fighters.

 “This kind of fencing is cheaper and more convenient compared to the conventional fencing where people had to fill sandbags, a slow undertaking, with one worker filling about 20 sandbags per hour, a  front end loader can do ten times the work of those using sandbags, notes Hudson Mauta, the contracts’ site Engineer.

In the recent past, most countries including South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries have embraced this fencing plan following its security-guarantee and affordability.

Other buildings with a similar fencing in Kenya include among others, Telkom Kenya Ltd, Continental Bank Ltd, Kenya Industrial Estates , Kenya Utalii College, Kenya Wine Agencies Ltd, Kenya Sisal Board, Kenya Planters Co-operative union, Kenya Railways Corporation, Tana Water Services Board, Industrial Development Bank, Coffee Board of Kenya, Coast Water Services Board and  Kenya Meat Commission. Mr.Mauta, confirmed that the fence will be complete come next month.

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