A National Shame: Professionals Warn of Widespread Building Safety Crisis

Leading built environment professional associations have condemned the systemic failures that led to the deadly collapse of a building under construction in South C, describing the incident as both a preventable tragedy and a national shame.

In a joint press briefing held today, leaders from the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK), the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK), and The Architects Alliance (TAA) warned that the country is facing a safety crisis so severe that the slightest tremor could bring down numerous existing structures.

IEK President Eng. Shammah Kiteme characterized the collapse as a reflection of interconnected failures across the entire project lifecycle, from initial planning and design to final inspection and enforcement.

He emphasized that the industry must look inward to restore public trust, noting that professionals must be held to account both ethically and technically where they have failed to uphold safety standards.

The associations further faulted weak development control systems at the county level. AAK President Arch. George A. Ndege observed that many counties have begun treating the building approval process primarily as a revenue-generation tool rather than a critical safety mechanism.

To rectify this, he urged county governments to strengthen their quality assurance protocols and appoint senior technical officers, including Chief Architects and Engineers, to provide necessary oversight on all construction projects.

Addressing the role of private investment, TAA President Sen. Arch. Sylvia Kasanga insisted that developers must bear the ultimate responsibility for compliance under the National Building Code 2024.

She called for strict adherence to the law and demanded that developers provide full reparations to the families of those affected by construction disasters. Kasanga noted that without firm consequences for those who bypass regulations, the culture of impunity will continue to cost lives.

In a unified call for reform, the professionals demanded thorough investigations followed by the swift prosecution and deregistration of all culpable parties.

They proposed the immediate implementation of mandatory peer reviews at every project stage and the creation of a national planning information system to enhance transparency and standardize development control across the country.

The experts concluded by noting that while the technical causes and solutions for building collapses are well-documented, the missing ingredient remains the political courage and coordination required to stop these recurring tragedies.