Passaris Demands Tough Action as Building Collapses Rise Across Kenya

Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has called for tougher enforcement of construction regulations amid growing concerns over building collapses and loss of lives across the country.

Passaris said she joined members of the National Assembly Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works in an engagement with the National Construction Authority (NCA) to examine the rising cases of collapsed buildings.

The committee sought accountability and comprehensive information on the incidents, including the number of buildings that have collapsed, casualties recorded, investigations conducted, prosecutions undertaken and sanctions imposed on contractors and professionals found responsible.

According to the NCA, more than 100 building collapses have been recorded across the country over the past three decades.

The authority attributed the collapses largely to poor workmanship, failure to comply with construction standards, inadequate professional supervision and the use of substandard building materials.

The revelations have renewed calls for stricter oversight of the construction sector, particularly in rapidly expanding urban centres where demand for residential and commercial buildings continues to grow.

Passaris and her colleagues called for stronger enforcement mechanisms to ensure that developers, contractors and professionals adhere to approved construction standards at every stage of a project.

The committee also emphasised the need for proper professional supervision and accountability for those who compromise safety standards, warning that failure to enforce regulations puts the lives of building occupants and the wider public at risk.

The Nairobi legislator said Kenya must strengthen regulation of the construction industry to prevent avoidable tragedies and ensure that buildings constructed across the country meet the required safety standards.

The parliamentary engagement comes amid continued public concern over building failures, with lawmakers pushing for greater accountability and decisive action against individuals and companies whose negligence contributes to such incidents.

The committee is expected to continue scrutinising the sector as part of efforts to strengthen construction oversight and protect lives.