By Jameson
Built environment professional associations have called for an end to impunity in the construction sector following the collapse of a building under construction in South C, Nairobi, an incident that left several people dead and others injured.
In a statement released on Thursday, and signed by the Institution of Engineers of Kenya, the Architectural Association of Kenya, the Architects Alliance, the Institute of Quantity Surveyors of Kenya, the Association of Construction Managers of Kenya, the Kenya Institute of Planners, the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya, among others, the professionals described the tragedy as preventable and unacceptable in a country with Kenya’s level of technical capacity and professional expertise.
They expressed deep condolences to affected families and communities, noting that every life lost represents a collective failure across the construction and regulatory system.
“We are profoundly saddened by this loss of life. In the 21st century, such disasters should no longer occur. Each collapse weighs heavily on our national conscience,” the statement read.
The professionals, drawn from architecture, engineering, quantity surveying, planning, construction management, surveying, valuation and allied fields, said they were outraged by systemic failures that continue to result in deadly building collapses. They emphasized that where professionals fail in design, supervision, certification or ethical conduct, they must be held fully accountable.
According to the associations, building collapses stem from interconnected failures along the entire development chain, including planning and design, approvals, construction methods, material quality, inspection, enforcement and political interference. They said they are ready to work with the national government, county governments and regulators to address these weaknesses and restore public confidence in the industry.
A key concern raised was the role of county governments. The associations urged counties to strengthen planning and building control departments, stressing that these functions should not be treated merely as revenue collection exercises. They called on all counties to appoint core technical officers, including Chief Architects, Engineers, Surveyors, Valuers and Planners, to ensure effective inspections, quality assurance and quality control for all approved developments.
The statement also singled out developers, warning against a culture in which those financing projects evade responsibility. Citing Clause 5 of the National Building Code 2024, the professionals said developers must be held ultimately accountable for failure to comply with legal and technical requirements, particularly in cases of collapse.
They further called for thorough and transparent investigations into the South C incident, noting that more than 200 buildings have collapsed in Kenya since 1996, with little evidence that lessons learned have been implemented. Findings from investigations, they said, must be made public and translated into concrete industry reforms to prevent recurring tragedies.
The associations demanded that responsibility be assigned to all culpable parties, including county governments, regulators, ministries, independent consultants, contractors and developers. Failure to enforce accountability, they warned, entrenches a culture of impunity that continues to cost lives.
Among the systemic issues highlighted were poor governance, corruption, political interference, bypassing of procedures, involvement of unqualified practitioners, credential renting, lack of geotechnical investigations, poor construction sequencing, use of substandard materials and weak quality control during construction.
They also proposed mandatory peer review at all stages of development, from planning and design to approvals and execution, with a clear separation between designers and implementers. Documented evidence of peer reviews, they said, should be required in both the public and private sectors.
Additionally, the professionals called for the establishment of a national planning information system to provide a standardized framework for development control across all counties. Such a platform, they said, similar to systems used in the judiciary, IFMIS and e Citizen, would enhance transparency, coordination and peer learning without undermining devolution.
Looking ahead, the associations demanded immediate action once investigations into the South C collapse are concluded. They called for the formation of a multi stakeholder task force to examine structural design, supervision, construction methods, material quality, and approval and enforcement failures. They also urged that developers be compelled to provide reparations to affected families and that all their other projects be subjected to comprehensive audits.
The statement further called for swift regulatory action, including deregistration and prosecution of culpable professionals and developers where appropriate, and improved coordination among regulatory agencies to avoid fragmentation and institutional rivalries.
“We recognize lives lost to preventable building failures as a national shame. The causes are known and the solutions are known. What is required now is courage, coordination and commitment,” the statement concluded.
On Friday, January 2, a 14 storey building under construction collapsed in Nairobi’s South C estate, triggering a multi agency emergency response and renewing concerns over building safety and regulatory enforcement in Kenya.
