The increasing incidences of building collapses in the country endangers public safety and well-being, the government rues.
According to National Construction Authority (NCA) records, 154 structures have collapsed since 1990, resulting in 253 fatalities and 320 injuries, some of which are permanent.
The grim figures have necessitated an urgent need to streamline the country’s construction sector.
As part of the intervention measures, Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei convened a meeting with the building and construction sector agencies and relevant State Departments to chart a new course towards mitigating the risks.
During the meeting, Internal Security Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo indicated that the country neither lacked the necessary building regulations nor competent personnel to oversee the sector and urged construction agencies to employ the multi-agency approach.
Aside from robust enforcement and joint inspections, PS Omollo called for the sensitization of the public to enable them pinpoint instances of constructions failing to adhere to the standards and regulations, which they could subsequently report to authorities for appropriate action.
