The National Building Inspectorate (NBI) has discovered 919 structures that are unfit for habitation during continuous inspections of buildings around the nation.
Samuel Charagu, the NBI Secretary, disclosed that 919 out of the 19605 buildings that had been assessed thus far in 26 counties were determined to be unsafe.
The Inspectorate’s purpose is to evaluate all buildings in the nation, particularly those that are occupied.
“We have been going around the country, and so far we have been to 26 counties to check the structural integrity of buildings,” Charagu said.
Approximately 5% of the structures they had previously evaluated nationwide, he said, and he added that many more had been deemed unsafe but could be fixed.
He claimed that in their capacity as building inspectors, they enter buildings after they have been occupied to conduct inspections.
Charagu claims that the NBI closely collaborates with the police and local government to remove people who are already residing in such buildings. He claims that this action has saved lives because some buildings have collapsed just days after inhabitants were evacuated.
“Once we find a building that is dangerous, we alert the police and the National Disaster Management Unit to have the occupants removed; we have done that in Ruiru and Mombasa recently,” said the NBI Secretary.
Joel Arumonyang, principal secretary of the State Department for Public Works, reaffirmed the need for better legislation and regulation in the construction industry.
He added that as a state department, they were enthusiastic about regulations and had engaged with the building code, which is a component of the strategy to address this issue and is currently before the Senate.
Arumonyang stressed that the building control bill also deals with filling up the gaps in the building sector and that the department wishes to involve the national assembly in addressing the problems the construction sector is facing.
