Report blames cost-cutting and fake architects for Kenya’s building collapses
A government report tabled in Parliament says developers sacrifice safety to cut costs, while unqualified people design and supervise buildings. It also blames split approvals, compromised regulators and weak county enforcement, the Daily Nation reported.
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",…
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