Kenya's buildings are at risk of collapse because of failures at every stage, a government report tabled in Parliament has found, the Daily Nation reported. The problems run from design and approvals to construction and materials. The report covers the period from July 1, 2025, to April 2, 2026. It names poor workmanship, a disjointed approval process, compromised regulators and non-compliance with building standards as the main causes.
According to the report, developers who want to save money often produce poor structural designs. Some developers building on weak soil cut the quantity and quality of concrete and reinforcement, it says. This raises the risk of collapse. Most designers also skip geotechnical investigations to check whether the soil can carry the planned loads.
The report says unlicensed people posing as engineers and architects prepare and sell drawings to developers. The developers do not question them. Incomplete and defective drawings contribute significantly to structural weaknesses, the report warns. A small number of qualified professionals also supervise too many projects. In Mombasa County, only five architects and three structural engineers handle 73 per cent of developments.
This workload has led some professionals to "credential renting", the report says. Under this practice, registered professionals let unqualified people work under their names without supervising the project. The report adds that some developers break zoning rules by adding floors. This puts heavier loads on foundations.
On oversight, the report says compromised agencies approve substandard structures. They also issue occupation certificates for buildings that do not meet standards. Approvals are split among county governments, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the NCA. This pushes many developers to take shortcuts. The report also cites lenient fines that fail to deter offenders and weak enforcement capacity in counties.
Contractors also share the blame. The report says some ignore approved plans, use unskilled workers and mix concrete in the wrong proportions. Others fail to compact and cure concrete properly, put up weak scaffolding or ignore the specified reinforcement. Most building materials in Kenya are never tested, the report adds.
To tighten oversight, the report proposes mandatory inspections at key stages: excavation, structural framework, roofing and a final check before occupancy. It also calls for a one-stop centre for all building control processes. The public is urged to report illegal construction and unsafe sites.