Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has warned that Kenya’s construction industry must tighten safety and quality standards, following a string of deadly building collapses in Nairobi.
Speaking at State House Nairobi, Kindiki said the recent tragedies expose weaknesses in professional supervision and regulatory enforcement, stressing that lapses in the sector put lives and national development at risk.
On January 10, a building being constructed opposite Karen Community Church along Ngong Road collapsed, killing at least two workers and injuring several others. Early investigations indicate that poor materials and shoddy workmanship contributed to the disaster. Just weeks earlier, a multi-storey building in South C also gave way, prompting emergency responses and a probe into potential negligence and oversight failures.
Kindiki urged that all professionals and regulatory authorities, at both county and national levels, be held responsible for lapses under their watch.
“We need to make sure that the houses that are being built are safe in the long term for the people of Kenya and Your Excellency, we must start thinking through how working with the professional bodies that regulate some of the professions that are in the built environment… How going forward, we must introduce and implement consequence management for professionals who under their watch, they make decisions, which decisions ends up having the kind of situations we had two months ago…” he said.
“It must mean something for you to be a professional and under your watch, or through a decision you have taken to approve something, something happens that affects the safety and well being of the people of Kenya,"he added.
Adding weight to Kindiki’s concerns, Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) Coast Branch Chairperson Dancan Odhiambo said the majority of buildings in Kenya fail to meet professional standards.
Speaking to a local TV station on January 16, Odhiambo explained that weak oversight and corrupt practices allow developers to bypass safety requirements.
“Research by the National Building Inspectorate done last year came up with a shocking revelation that 87 per cent of the buildings you see are not designed by professionals and are therefore unsafe. This shows a significant portion of buildings are at risk,” Odhiambo said, adding that the findings were based on 2024 data.
The collapse of the 16-storey South C building has also drawn sharp criticism from construction and planning experts, who say those responsible for approving additional floors must face consequences.
Professionals from the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK), The Architects Alliance (TAA), and the Kenya Institute of Planners (KIP) warned that more than 85% of Nairobi’s buildings are unsafe for occupation. They called for a thorough and speedy investigation to ensure accountability for those who breached professional codes of conduct.
During the same State House event, Kindiki addressed 5,500 interns participating in the Affordable Housing Program, highlighting their role in raising construction standards. He said the program not only equips young professionals with hands-on experience but also offers a pathway to long-term employment, helping to improve safety across the sector.
“We must work together to ensure that the mistakes that led to these collapses are not repeated,” Kindiki said, stressing that proper training and strict oversight are critical to safeguarding the public.
