Properly developers in Eldoret have been directed to ensure full compliance with construction laws.
Uasin Gishu County Executive Committee Member for the Department of Lands, Physical Planning, Housing and Urban Development Dr Janeth Kosgey says compliance is the only way to guarantee safety for residents living in buildings.
The County Executive made the comments during a day-long site visit of various ongoing and completed buildings within Eldoret town.
The visit was meant to ensure the buildings meet safety standards provided by construction laws.
“It is vital for property developers to comply with provided laws on construction to ensure the safety of all residents in the building,” Dr Kosgey said.
Collapse of buildings
She further noted that compliance with statutory regulations of buildings was the only sure way to avert occurrences of buildings collapsing.
Among the buildings the County Executive visited was one located along Uganda Road that had since been identified as unsafe due to deterioration and instability.
She said the building had paused a danger to the people operating businesses in it and the pedestrians along the street hence condemned.
Meanwhile, Dr Kosgey challenged the county inspection team to ensure that they provide a report on all buildings marked as not compliant. This, she said, will pave the way for registered structural engineers to ascertain their safety and assurity of the quality of materials used for durable and safe buildings.
In her comments at Mwanzo estate where road encroachment had been witnessed, the County Executive asked the team to ensure that all roads remain passable for use by the public.
She also directed that all obstructions be removed from road reserves.
Frequent site visits
Lands and Physical Planning Chief Officer Nathan Korir, together with the team from the Physical Planning Department, Development Control and Building Inspection sections noted that it was important to do frequent site visits to check on compliance with the process of inspection of buildings.
“Going forward, we shall have frequent site visits to all developments to ascertain compliance with complete approvals from NEMA, National Construction Authority and The County Physical Planning office,” Korir said.
“It’s also important to ensure compliance from plan approvals, inspection of materials, testing and construction activities for the safety of residents,” the Chief Officer added.
Also present during the site visits were Director Physical Planning Planner Daniel Koech, Director Urban Development Planner Jacktone Kiprop and senior planners.
