Engineers blame City Hall for stalling construction projects in Nairobi

Institution of Engineers of Kenya President Shammah Kiteme before Finance Committee of Parliament on June 5, 2024 [Bonface Okendo, Standard]

The Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) has raised concerns over persistent delays in the approval of structural plans in Nairobi City County.

The engineers blame bureaucracy and inefficiency for crippling construction timelines and creating an environment ripe for corruption.

IEK President Eng. Shammah Kiteme expressed frustration with the county's inaction on engineering and construction submissions, warning that the delays are not only harming infrastructure development but also undermining ethical standards in the sector.

"Essentially, the process should involve the county reviewing the engineers' submissions-structural drawings and calculations-and once they grant approval or clearance, the project should be able to move forward," Eng. Kiteme said.

His remarks come just two months after Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja pledged to slash the waiting period for building permit approvals from six months to two weeks. However, the commitment has yet to materialize.

Kiteme revealed that in many cases, engineers' submissions are either ignored or allegedly go "missing," even when digital records confirm receipt.

This failure to act, he said, has opened the door for bribery and other unethical practices.

"Sometimes, engineers submit their plans, but on following up, they are told the submission hasn't been received-despite having digital signatures and footprints that confirm receipt," said Kiteme.

City Hall approvals are a prerequisite for subsequent registration with the National Construction Authority, a step that must be completed before construction can begin.