County in bid to boost safety of buildings
What you need to know:
- Mr Ondieki has urged Nairobi residents to demand proof of safety of buildings before renting them. “I am urging residents to report buildings suspected to be structurally weak,” he said.
- “Many unproved buildings are coming up almost in all sub-counties because the few inspectors we have are overwhelmed,” Mr Ondieki said. “Enforcement in areas where land was allocated by politicians is a challenge because locals won’t allow us.”
- The team led by Architectural Association of Kenya chairman Waweru Gathecha will identify reasons the building collapsed and file a report early next year.
The Nairobi County Government will soon introduce an electronic system to monitor constructions in the city.
The government does not have enough officers to inspect buildings and enforce construction laws and it is this gap that the system seeks to bridge.
Executive for Public works and Roads Evans Ondieki Monday said contractors will submit their plans through the system after which buildings inspectors can access them and approve or disapprove.
The automated system will allow the inspectors to capture key data of buildings through their mobile phones, including ongoing court proceedings and their outcomes. The electronic system is meant to supplement physical inspection of buildings.
Mr Ondieki said the house that collapsed in Makongeni along Jogoo Road in Nairobi last week, killing four people, was not approved.
“Many unapproved buildings are coming up almost in all sub-counties because the few inspectors we have are overwhelmed,” Mr Ondieki said.
“Enforcement in areas where land was allocated by politicians is a challenge because locals won’t allow us.”
DEMAND PROOF OF SAFETY
Mr Ondieki has urged Nairobi residents to demand proof of safety of buildings before renting them. “I am urging residents to report buildings suspected to be structurally weak,” he said.
“Politicians should not also use the unfortunate event to gain political mileage by criticizing the county government. Governor Evans Kidero has already formed a taskforce to investigate the incident as well as the safety of other buildings in the city. The seven-member team is expected to propose policy guidelines for the construction sector.
The team led by Architectural Association of Kenya chairman Waweru Gathecha will identify reasons the building collapsed and file a report early next year.
Kenya Institute of Planners chairman Isaac Karanja is the secretary while his Institute of Surveyors of Kenya counterpart Paul Wambua will be a member alongside Law Society of Kenya CEO Apollo Mboya.
