Two months since Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja promised to cut the waiting time for building permit plan approvals from six months to two weeks, the move is yet to take effect.
The Institution of Engineers of Kenya says delays, bureaucracy persist.
“A few days ago, we raised concerns about the challenges engineers face when submitting their structural drawings for approval at Nairobi City County,” IEK president Shammah Kiteme said.
“Essentially, the process should involve the county reviewing the engineers’ submissions, including structural drawings and calculations, and once they grant approval or clearance, the project should be able to move forward.”
These City Hall approvals are the foundation for subsequent approval by the National Construction Authority before construction work can commence.
In many cases, Kiteme said, submissions are not acted upon.
“Sometimes, engineers submit their plans but when they follow up, they are told that their submission has not been received, despite having digital signatures and footprints that confirm receipt," he said. “This induces corruption and various unethical practices, and over time, some officers have even started asking for bribes directly.”
IEK said the digitisation of submission processes was intended to eliminate the need for face-to-face interactions and reduce opportunities for corruption.
Instead, the delays have made it harder for investors and engineers to proceed with projects, with some approvals reportedly taking as long as a year.
Kiteme stressed that these delays are damaging not only the engineering profession but also the economy at large, as construction projects are stalled and investors are discouraged.
“The approval, after scrutiny from county officers, should be done promptly, as delays are affecting not only the industry but also the economy,” the IEK president said.
“When approvals are delayed, it means investors cannot begin their projects or investments.”
Sakaja had issued the directive to cut the waiting time on March 19 during a meeting with members of the Kenya Property Developers Association at City Hall.
“By reducing the approval timeline to be done after every two weeks, property developers can expect a more timely and predictable process, allowing them to plan and execute their projects more effectively,” the governor had said.
