Rogue developers notorious for building substandard houses will be tamed, if the Built Environment Bill is passed into law, the Nakuru County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Lands, Housing and Physical Planning, Francis Mwangi has said.
Mwangi observed that current legislation governing the construction industry that was enacted in 1968 had loopholes that were being exploited by ‘money hungry’ contractors, most of whom he said were not qualified and did not belong to professional bodies that oversee adherence to building standards.
Speaking during a public participation on the Bill in Nakuru, the CECM noted that once passed into law it will greatly improve quality, safety and professionalism on the construction industry in the County.
He urged the public to volunteer their views and seek clarifications where necessary with regard to the Bill since its implementation will impact greatly on the county as it gears for City Status.
The proposed law has multifaceted regulations that enforce building standards for safety, health, security and convenience.
“Comprehensive consultations will help in the improvement of the draft Bill. The proposed law will bring to abrupt end lucrative careers of rogue contractors responsible for recurrent disasters and deaths when buildings collapse.
It intends to end mediocrity in the construction industry and assure the public of quality workmanship and safety in the houses they live in.
The Bill places them in a tight corner because it will be mandatory that every company has a built-environment professional (an architect or a quantity surveyor) as a senior partner or director,” noted the CECM.
According to official statistics, only 826 buildings out of 4,879 inspected by the National Buildings Inspectorate representing a mere 17 per cent were found to be structurally safe.
The whooping 4,053 structures had been constructed using substandard materials and the workmanship was poor.
According to the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK), six out of ten buildings in Nairobi for example are not approved.
Ends
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
