Shitanda says new housing code on the way

By Ramadhan Rajab

The Government says a new housing code is ready.

The draft Building code envisages creation of a building and planning authority to manage the sector.

It will be forwarded to the Prime Minister’s office by next week.

"As it is now, achieving order and sanity in the sector is difficult because of scattered efforts. We have more than 106 statutes in our laws. That’s why we need this legislation to harmonise activities in the sector," Housing Minister Soita Shitanda told The Standard.

"It seeks to address professionalism by knocking quacks out and harmonising efforts to improve quality as well make monitoring easy," he said.

The minister said the housing code would not sideline any professional body.

Mr Shitanda said apart from enhancing professionalism in the industry, the code would give guidelines on how buildings can be disability friendly.

Mass housing

He said the revised building code seeks to revamp and streamline rules to allow use of technologies for mass housing construction, which would address the current biting housing shortage.

"Laxity of local authorities to enforce and implement housing rules has been blamed on lack of professionals, but this regulation has a mechanism that will allow them access professionals across respective towns," he added.

Shitanda said the draft planning and building regulations would give owners of houses not disability friendly time to comply.

The minister spoke ahead of Monday’s World Habitat Day celebrations to be held in Mombasa.