Minister puts contractors on notice, wants them regulated

By Martin Mutua

Building contractors should be regulated and trained regularly, Housing Minister Soita Shitanda has said.

The minister said this would ensure there are no non-performers in the construction industry.

He said a draft Bill to deal with uncoordinated physical development, which leads to mushrooming of slums had been finalised.

Mr Shitanda noted his ministry had suffered greatly from the physical development and approval of building plans for Government residential estates where private developers have been allocated public land.

He said the developers have ended up developing commercial buildings, funeral homes, garages and social clubs in serene residential areas.

He noted this was more evident in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret towns.

The minister was speaking after unveiling the Building Bill Regulations, 2009 at the weekend.

Slums upgrade

He said with the recent relocation of some Kibera residents, his ministry hoped the reviewed code would help upgrade slums and informal settlements countrywide.

"We also hope further growth and expansion of slums and informal settlements will be contained as we put order in housing and the building sector," he said.

Shitanda said the draft Bill proposes to harmonise and integrate individual physical plans with national, regional and local developments.

It also seeks power to approve building designs and plans, co-ordinate inspections and maintenance of all buildings for safety, develop national, regional and local physical development plans.

It seeks to disseminate information on building requirements, advise Government and regulate construction of all buildings.