NAIROBI: Players in Kenya’s real estate industry stand to win big as the Government moves to harmonise levies and permits required to register construction plans. This comes as the Government seeks to reduce the costs paid by contractors and developers who had complained of numerous levies and licenses that slowed the industry’s growth.
“I have spoken to the National Construction Authority (NCA) and asked them to look at levies charged to property developers in the hope of reviewing them so as to facilitate investment,” explained Fred Matiangi, acting Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Lands.
Speaking when he officially opened the 1st Annual Construction Research Conference and Exhibition held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC), Matiangi further reckoned that the Government was committed to reducing barriers to investment in the lucrative real estate sector.
The three-day conference brought together stakeholders, representatives of the private sector, financial institutions, academic sector and research institution to discuss key innovations that will bring development in the sub-sector.
“I met with the board and I am calling on the NCA chairman to implement the reviews as soon as possible.”
Matiangi, however, stated that the Government would not relent on its stringent industry requirements for safety and asked contractors to strictly follow the country’s building codes. More than half a dozen buildings have collapsed in Kenya in the last twelve months alone leading to loss of lives and dozens injured.
The NCA, which has in the past come under intense criticism for its oversight role in taming rogue contractors said it is working with stakeholders to increase capacity for skilled personnel in the construction sector.
“We have an acute shortage of various skills set in the construction industry and we are currently doing a survey to get more accurate data,” said Daniel Manduku, NCA’s executive chairman. “We are further reviewing the building codes to include the use of new technologies that are available in the market.”
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