Nairobi Governor Sakaja proposes reforms for unsafe buildings

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has proposed two legislative reforms to address unsafe buildings and improve developer accountability within the capital. Appearing before the Senate Standing Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing, Sakaja argued that current penalties are insufficient to deter violations in large-scale construction.

The first proposal seeks to significantly increase fines for developers who bypass approved building plans or construction regulations. Sakaja noted that under the Physical and Land Use Planning Act of 2019, the maximum fine of Ksh500,000 is inadequate for multi-billion-shilling projects.

The second reform aims to grant authorized county officers greater prosecutorial powers. Currently, county governments face limitations in enforcing building standards due to a lack of independent prosecutorial authority. Empowering these officers is intended to ensure faster accountability and stricter compliance with safety standards.