Nairobi County banks on digital platforms to boost compliance by developers

Developers in Eastleigh have been urged to make use of the online approval system that was rolled out by the Nairobi City County to expedite the process of approval of building plans, Domenic Mutegi, Director of Development Management at Nairobi City County has urged.

According to the National Construction Authority (NCA), there were 170 applications between January and December 2023 for development projects in the Kamukunji sub-county, which mostly covers Eastleigh.

The online QR Code system provides a unique identification of all approved architectural and structural plans, eliminating the need for property developers to submit hard copies of development plans for stamping upon approval.

Delays in approval and registration of projects have been a major concern for developers, with some of them complaining that these delays have stopped them from delivering on projects promptly, therefore creating conflict with their buyers and investors.

Mutegi says that though the developers have the option of making and tracking approval applications online, many of them still opt to go to the county offices for approval.

This creates room for corruption, where rogue officials may deliberately delay the approval process and tell developers that the only way to expedite the process is to part with some extra money.

"Delays in approvals, poor compliance enforcement, unauthorised developments and lack of public sensitisation are key concerns. To address some of these challenges, the county has rolled out an online approval system that notifies the applicant on the progress of your approvals and you can also do your approval applications online," noted Mutegi.

Technical Committee

Mutegi also said the county has formed an Urban Planning Technical Committee with key internal and external stakeholders from the built environment to ensure transparency and address the issues of endemic corruption.

"Through the Nairobi County Physical and Land Use Act, an independent court that addresses and deals with issues concerning development approvals, we aim to address these delays in approvals," noted Mutegi.

Mutegi, who was speaking during a Kenya Property Developers Association forum held recently in Nairobi, added that the Regulation Act currently in parliament will play a crucial role in assisting to address issues concerning unauthorised developments propping up everywhere.

Of all the factors that lead to the collapse of buildings including poor workmanship, lack of professional supervision in construction, sub-standard building materials, negligence and geological weaknesses, failure to comply with guidelines has been identified as the biggest issue facing the sector.

Maurice Aketch, the Executive Director of the National Construction Authority, says that because a lot of regulatory processes have now been digitised, making the approval process easier and more transparent, the only thing stopping some developers and contractors from complying is pure negligence.

He says that some developers opt to go to government offices not because they do not know how to use the online approval systems, but rather because they want to cut costs or bypass the approval process altogether.

"You do not even have to walk to NCA offices to get a compliance certificate. Sit in the comfort of your home, open your laptop, visit our official website, and apply. It is free of charge for your information, but compliance is still at a worrying 40 per cent," notes Eng Maurice Akech.

Complying with statutory regulations is important not only because it helps to safeguard the lives of building occupants, but also because it helps to protect investments and boost the longevity, and profitability of developments.