President Uhuru ordered for building audits early in 2015. This came just after 2 successive collapses in Nairobi. The recent one of the collapse killed two women and an infant. These incidences came after a Questworks study that proved that 75% of buildings in Nairobi are not safe in the event of an Earthquake.
President’s directive should be followed through and hopefully before end of 1st Quarter, a report with findings will be tabled. Building audits are a first step. They will reveal the status quo and hopefully a good beginning to solutions to the problem of collapses in Kenya. A system wide solution framework will need crafted. We will need
- Home buyers and corporate real estate buyers to take keen interest when leasing, renting and buying property.
- More technical supervision from built environment professionals and professional registration bodies
- Kenyan legislators (both houses regulators to review and improve existing legislation’s and building codes. Questworks team already has drafts of some of these proposals for Senate and Parliament
- Media fraternity to disseminate information on building safety ( not just structural alone but fire and other aspects that) tenants and buyers need to be cognizant of
- Nairobi County Government and National Construction Authority are probably among the key bodies that will be vested with good quality construction. A modification on their legal mandates, work processes, responsibility and generally results may need to be modified to allow for safe built environment to flourish in Kenya.
http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/uhuru-orders-audit-all-nairobi-buildings-after-huruma-collapse