Published on: May 08, 2024 07:12 (EAT)
Speaking on
Wednesday during the groundbreaking ceremony for the first public hospital in
Mlango Kubwa, Mathare, Sakaja cautioned architects and engineers whose names
are utilized by contractors on construction permits, emphasizing that they will
be held responsible for any consequences that may arise.
“Action will
be taken against any construction professionals who didn’t follow the right
procedures and approved the construction of the building that didn’t meet
required standards. The law must be followed,” he said.
“If you are a
professional architect or engineer whose name was used to get the construction
approval for a building and you abandon the project for whatever reason, you
must notify the professional body you belong to which will then inform the
county that the project is ongoing without the supervision of
professionals.”
The Governor
further lauded his team’s swift response in evacuating tenants of the collapsed
building, which has since been cordoned off as a crime scene. According to
the Kenya Red Cross, all of the building’s tenants have been accounted for.
In new directives,
Sakaja additionally mandated an audit of all buildings erected in the city
within the past two years, starting from May 13, 2024.
This audit stems
from feedback received by his administration from stakeholders within the Built
Environment sector.
The Governor added
that the multi-agency committee tasked to undertake the audit will have between
30 to 60 days to conclude the process and submit a findings report for
implementation.
Additionally,
Sakaja likewise temporarily suspended the issuance of new building plan approvals
and excavations at ongoing construction sites.
“We have also
suspended undertaking of excavations at construction sites as this would
compromise the structural integrity and safety of adjourning buildings due to
the ongoing heavy rains,” he said.
