National Construction Authority Launches National Building Code

The National Construction Authority (NCA) has introduced new measures to address the issue of rogue contractors and unlicensed buildings in the country.

This development follows NCA’s launch of the National Building Code, which introduces stricter regulations on building construction to tackle critical issues, such as the frequent collapse of structures in major commercial and residential areas.

The code proposes stringent terms for the licensing of buildings, authorisation for construction, and penalties for contractors whose buildings are found to be unsafe.

At the launch of the new regulations for the construction industry, Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome emphasised that the government will now enforce harsher penalties on contractors whose buildings collapse.

Wahome also warned Kenyans against contracting unqualified individuals and contractors to oversee the construction of their housing and related projects.

”We have lost lives before, we have seen buildings coming down and I think we have not followed thereafter to see what action has been taken,” Wahome stated.

”We will prosecute if you have participated in the process of building that leads to loss of lives, then you may find yourself with a very harsh term,” she added.

The Building Code which will come into effect in March is expected to heighten enforcement and increased inspections at construction sites to eliminate substandard practices.

Further, the code will aim to tighten compliance, and risk mitigation, reduce informal and unsafe construction and enhance public awareness.

The new code will also seek to enhance sustainable practices within the building industry, upholding higher safety standards.

The government is hopeful that it will discipline and professionalism to address the rising cases of building collapses that have claimed the lives of many Kenyans.

This comes as the government plans to allocate additional funding to the NCA to strengthen its operational framework. The authority stated that with the increased funding, it will recruit more Kenyans to enhance the execution of its mandate.

According to data from Research and Markets, analysts anticipate a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1% for Kenya’s construction industry between 2024 and 2028, with output expected to reach Ksh1.35 trillion by 2028. This optimistic outlook is supported by planned investments in transport, energy, housing, and industrial facilities