Kenyans completed new buildings worth Sh2.3 billion last year, adding a clean Sh1 billion to the 2003 figure. A major beneficiary of the virtually private-sector-driven boom was the cement manufacturing industry, which chalked up growth of 11.9 per cent. It is estimated that 1.4Mt of cement were consumed nationally over the period. The value of approved building plans rose from Sh22 billion to Sh35 billion. However, the sector was hampered by increases in costs, with the overall cost going up by 10 per cent.