Less than half of sample buildings inspected across the country in the 2023/24 financial year passed the required safety threshold, new figures from the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) show, highlighting the need for stricter monitoring and enforcement of regulations on projects.
The report shows that of the 1,333 buildings inspected in various counties, including Nairobi, only 570 were deemed safe.
“...42 were deemed dangerous, requiring immediate testing and, in some cases, demolition. An additional 246 buildings were marked as unsafe, 453 were classified as fair, and 570 were identified as safe,” it said.
“These findings underscore the urgent need for stricter oversight and enforcement to address structural safety concerns and support safer urban development,” AAK said.
The National Building Inspectorate (NBI) has inspected 20,649 buildings in various counties in almost a decade since its establishment.
Some 11,662 buildings were found to be unsafe, requiring rehabilitation, but only 210 underwent testing for structural integrity.
Nairobi City recorded the highest number of dangerous structures, which AAK says reflects “the challenges of regulating construction in high-density urban areas.”
The report highlighted some of the challenges within the built environment, including structural failures and building collapses, geographical disparities in safety compliance and the demolition of unsafe buildings.
“Four incidents of structural failure and building collapses were recorded. These include the collapses in Uthiru, Kahawa West, Ruiru, and Kiamaiko,” AAK said.
“While the figure may appear modest, the NBI identified 42 of the 1,333 buildings inspected across various counties as dangerous, recommending immediate evacuation where necessary.”
An eight-storey building collapsed in Kahawa West in October, displacing more than 60 tenants. In May, a five-storey building fell in Uthiru, killing four people, and a three-storey building collapsed in Nairobi, trapping ten people.
Private buildings accounted for the largest number of buildings flagged for non-compliance, but informal structures were also flagged, especially those encroaching on riparian land, and railways, roads, pipelines and electricity line reserves.
AAK pointed to a need for increased technical and financial capacity of the inspectorate to better address public safety risks.
“In Nairobi County alone, 688 buildings were identified as dangerous, highlighting urban centres as hotbeds of structural safety non-compliance incidences due to rapid and often poorly regulated, development,” stated AAK.
The NBI said that 119 permanent structures had been demolished, with 10 earmarked for demolition after further inspection.
