Nairobi County Employees Accused of Sabotaging Building Approvals for Bribes
The Nairobi City County government is currently facing scrutiny after it was revealed that certain employees have been disregarding construction regulations to approve building plans, even when developers have not met the requirements.
At a recent hearing held by the Nairobi City County Assembly Planning Committee, which specifically addresses unauthorized construction in the city, it was discovered that county employees intentionally tamper with the automated building approval system. As a result, this spurs developers to personally seek and offer bribes to the staff members in the urban planning office to ensure construction approval. During the committee meeting, the Architecture Association of Kenya (AAK), spearheaded by its president Florence Nyole, made these revelations known.
Ms. Nyole reports that interference is creating major hold-ups in the approval process. Already projecting a development decision timeframe of sixty days, developers are now waiting up to nine or even twelve months. To top it off, those in need of expedited approval must pay an undisclosed fee to guarantee preference. Frustrations rise even further as the county delegates require land use change requests specifically to certain developers while absolving others of such procedures.
The issue of non-compliant buildings has sparked worry among city residents. Ms Brenda Nyawara, a committee member of the AAK, has highlighted the tendency of county officials to grant approvals for these structures, even after they have been rejected by the committee. Additionally, the county has faced allegations of hastily altering land use without providing residents with sufficient opportunity to voice their concerns. Area residents have observed that by the time they receive notifications about land use changes in their area, the approvals have already been authorized.
Residents only have two weeks to voice their disagreement with the proposed changes, which is not enough time as decisions are made before the protest letters even arrive. One citizen is apprehensive about the revelations' safety consequences, especially as the El Nino rains are currently affecting the nation. Acting County Secretary Patrick Analo who doubles as the Built Environment Chief Officer, has invited individuals with information regarding illegal buildings to come forward so that the county can take action against these developers.
Comments (7)
Ooohh I see, this the answers to why buildings have been falling all over... Over to you integrity house.I hope your was constructed by approved architects...
This cartel of property developers are making Nairobi urban planning and design lookvery cheap and ghetto.
In advanced economies City Council Committees have the delegated power to approve the urban plan and design of a city based on public participation in the process.
The committees take short duration but they adhere to the laid out urban planning process. Everyone has to follow the same plan and if that is not followed the building approvals are canceled and buildings are brought down at owners cost.
I have a building five storey on my plot .
There are no approvals from county of Mombasa no NEMA no structural drawings no architecture drawings yet this owner of bldg has taken impunity in his hands.
Despite building being condemned by court the same judge who gve ruling for demolition gives a stay.
The building is in such a bad state cracks in column bldg bent wall huge cracks the roof not there blown away yet no action from anyone to remove the tenant living in this unsafe and unstable buildg.
Writing to these officers has fallen to deaf ears .
May be the aak can help to save this catostrophie.
It is so pathetic.
To seek help is a nightmare.
Noone cares.
The nca the NEMA the county officers in msa in planning.
The building is on plot vms/133 likoni mainland
0717580546 is my number
I have a building five storey on my plot .
There are no approvals from county of Mombasa no NEMA no structural drawings no architecture drawings yet this owner of bldg has taken impunity in his hands.
Despite building being condemned by court the same judge who gve ruling for demolition gives a stay.
The building is in such a bad state cracks in column bldg bent wall huge cracks the roof not there blown away yet no action from anyone to remove the tenant living in this unsafe and unstable buildg.
Writing to these officers has fallen to deaf ears .
May be the aak can help to save this catostrophie.
It is so pathetic.
To seek help is a nightmare.
Noone cares.
The nca the NEMA the county officers in msa in planning.
The building is on plot vms/133 likoni mainland
0717580546 is my number
There are 4 ongoing construction sites along City Park Drive, Parklands where development approvals were given by one Fredrick Ochanda of the Planning Department. He admitted the alleged permits were forgeries but has consistentky refused to file complaints with the police and continue encouraging the developers to put up humongous residential apartments.
But this happens all the time and in all spheres of government. How is this a surprise???
Nightmare of corruption at all levels. Kwani waafrika tulirogwa?
Anti corruption and integrity must be put in the education curriculum from grade one.