Engineers raise alarm over delays, graft in Nairobi structural plan approvals
IEK President Eng Shammah Kiteme expressed deep frustration over the county's failure to act on engineering and construction-related submissions.
The Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) has raised serious concerns regarding prolonged delays in the approval of structural plans at the Nairobi City County, warning that the inefficiencies are crippling construction projects and fostering corruption within the system.
Speaking to the press on Wednesday, IEK President Eng Shammah Kiteme expressed deep frustration over the county's failure to act on engineering and construction-related submissions.
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He stated that the current situation was not only slowing down critical infrastructure development but also opening up avenues for unethical practices, including bribery.
“A few days ago, we raised concerns about the challenges engineers face when submitting their structural drawings for approval at Nairobi City County. Essentially, the process should involve the county reviewing the engineers’ submissions, including structural drawings and calculations, and once they grant approval or clearance, the project should be able to move forward,” said IEK President Eng Shammah Kiteme.
Once approved, these clearances allow the project to proceed to the next stages, such as registration with the National Construction Authority.
However, Eng Kiteme lamented that in many cases, submissions are not acted upon, and follow-ups often reveal that the documents are claimed to be missing, even when there is clear digital proof of submission.
"Sometimes, engineers submit their plans, but when they follow up, they are told that their submission hasn't been received, despite having digital signatures and footprints that confirm receipt. This induces corruption and various unethical practices, and over time, some officers have even started asking for bribes directly," said Eng Kiteme.
IEK has emphasised that the digitisation of submission processes was meant to eliminate the need for face-to-face interactions and reduce opportunities for corruption.
Instead, the delays have made it harder for investors and engineers to proceed with projects, with some approvals reportedly taking as long as a year.
Kiteme stressed that these delays were damaging not only to the engineering profession but also to the economy at large, as construction projects are stalled and investors are discouraged.
"The approval, after scrutiny from the officers in the county, should be done promptly, as delays are affecting not only the industry but also the economy. When approvals are delayed, it means investors cannot begin their projects or investments," said the IEK President.
Despite the challenges, the IEK President reiterated the institution's willingness to collaborate with county authorities to improve the approval process. However, he insisted that administrative action must be taken to address the increasing incidents of malpractice and ensure accountability in the system.
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