Counties to blame for wave of collapsed buildings — experts

A real estate consortium has asked county governments to stop negligence that has resulted in the collapse of several buildings across the country.

The Real Estate and Construction Network said counties need to move with speed and audit all buildings to establish the status of their structural integrity and compliance.

“They need to urgently review building permit and inspection regimes especially in Nairobi, Kiambu, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Machakos, Kajiado, Kisii where the occurrences have been common,” Recon said.

There has been a wave of collapsed buildings in the country, just recently  a seven-storey building in Kasarani caved in on November 15 and another five-storey buiding in Ruaka crumbled on November 17 and  today, a seven-storey in Ruiru.

In September, two buildings also collapsed in Kiambu county, in Kirigiti and one collapsed onto an adjacent building, killing three people.

On September 28, a six-storey building also collapsed in Ololooua, Kajiado county.

Recon said that county governments need to fill the loopholes used by rogue property owners and developers to construct illegal or irregularly approved buildings.

“County governments need to embark on immediate staffing of the requisite professionals with the capacity and expertise to conduct supervision and inspection on buildings under construction,” Recon said.

They said they will seek an audience with the national government, the county government through Council of Governors, Parliament, County Assembly Forum, National Construction Authority and community interest groups to establish common grounds for further engagement

“We will work together with the county to make sure inspection and supervision is done effectively even if it means employing the use of technology," Recon said.

"We will also endeavor to empower relevant authorities with our expertise,."