Civil & Structural Engineer · Nairobi, Kenya
Jesse
Pereso
I draw the houses, then I make sure they stand up.
Hi, I'm Jesse. I've spent the last few years designing homes, apartments, a church and even a filling station for families and small businesses across Kenya and Uganda — and doing the structural sums behind each one.
Right now
- →Teaching structural design at Dedan Kimathi University
- →Studying for my MSc (structures)
- →Taking on a few design commissions
01Things I've designed
A few favourites from the last four years. Click through for the full story and gallery.
▶ WalkthroughLiana Filling Station
Commercial · Embu, Kenya
▶ WalkthroughMkomani Community Apartments
Residential · Multi-storey · Mkomani, Mombasa, Kenya
Coastal Church Hall
Institutional · Coastal Kenya
▶ WalkthroughMakutano Residence
Residential · Maisonette · Makutano, Nyeri, Kenya
Stone Bungalow with Flat Roof
Residential · Bungalow · Central Kenya
Modern Flat-Roof Maisonette
Residential · Maisonette · Kiambu County, Kenya
Structural Analysis & Detailing
Structural Engineering · Kiambu, Gatuanyaga & others
And a few more
02A bit about me
I grew up wanting to know why buildings don't fall down. That curiosity took me through a civil engineering degree at Dedan Kimathi University (First Class Honours, which my mum still mentions) and now into a master's in structural engineering.
Most of my work starts with a client, a plot and a rough idea. I sketch the house with them, model it in 3D so they can walk through it before a single stone is laid, then design the frame, the slabs and the roof so it is safe and doesn't cost more than it should. I've done this for more than fifteen projects so far, from a small bungalow in Masinga to a 600-seat school in Laikipia.
I've also spent good time on site: supervising road works for the Kenya Rural Roads Authority, running residential builds for a developer in Kiambu, and testing materials in the government lab. These days I split my week between teaching young engineers at DeKUT and a few design commissions of my own.
- 15+
- Designs delivered
- 2
- Peer-reviewed papers
- 1st
- Class Honours, BSc
- KE · UG
- Countries served
Design
- Structural analysis & design (Eurocodes, BS)
- RC, steel & timber
- Architectural planning
- Roof & foundation design
Software
- MIDAS Gen
- Prokon
- TEDDS
- ArchiCAD
- AutoCAD
- Protas
- MS Project
Delivery
- Bills of quantities
- Cost estimation & scheduling
- Tendering & procurement
- Site supervision
Compliance
- NCA, NEMA & county approvals
- OSHA safety management
- Materials testing & QC
- Environmental impact analysis
03Where I've worked
- Jun 2025 – Present
Dedan Kimathi University of Technology
Trainer, Building & Civil Engineering
- —Hands-on training in structural design, construction safety and project management.
- —Mentoring students in technical drawing, BoQ preparation and site supervision.
- Jan 2025 – Oct 2025
Kenya Rural Roads Authority
Site Engineer · RWC 660 & Sosiot–Kapsuser–Kipsolu Road
- —Supervised inspectorate, survey and materials-laboratory operations.
- —Applied materials-testing standards and road design manuals on rehabilitation works.
- —Compiled progress and laboratory test reports for the Resident Engineer.
- Jun 2023 – Aug 2024
Stehas Investment Limited
Site Engineer
- —Ran residential developments from concept plans through permits to as-built drawings.
- —Prepared budgets, bills of quantities and schedules, reducing cost overruns.
- Aug 2023
Kenya Urban Roads Authority
Apprentice Engineer, South B Nairobi
- —Project monitoring & evaluation, measurement for payment and BoQ interpretation.
- —Environmental impact reporting and support to tendering and procurement.
- May – Jul 2023
State Department of Infrastructure
Apprentice, Materials Testing & Research Division
- —Instrument calibration, pavement condition and axle-load surveys, post-construction QC.
- 2022 – Present
Freelance
Structural Engineer & Designer
- —15+ architectural and structural designs across Kenya and Uganda, including a 4-storey apartment block in Mugutha and a 600-capacity school in Laikipia.
Education & registration
- 2025 – PresentMSc Civil Engineering (Structural)Dedan Kimathi University of Technology
- 2020 – 2025BSc Civil Engineering, First Class HonoursDedan Kimathi University of Technology
- 2025Graduate Engineer registration (in progress)Engineers Board of Kenya
04Papers I've published
Two studies on making concrete greener with materials we already have lying around the coast.
Advances in Materials Science and Engineering · 2025
Effects of Coral Sand Powder on the Strength and Durability Properties of Crushed Limestone Aggregate Concrete
XRF, SEM and EDS analysis showing a 6% coral sand powder additive improves strength, pore structure and sulphate resistance.
Advances in Materials Science and Engineering · 2025
Mechanical and Microstructural Properties of Clay Tile Waste Treated with Silica Fume
Demonstrates crushed clay tile waste with silica fume as a viable concrete constituent, diverting waste from landfill.
05 · Say hello
Got a plot and an idea? I'd love to hear about it.
Email is best. I usually reply within a day, and I'm happy to chat before anything is formal.