Nairobi: The construction industry in Kenya is set to undergo significant changes following the introduction of the new national building code 2024 which aims to enhance the standards, safety, sustainability, and efficiency in building practices. The National Construction Authority (NCA), whose main mandate is to regulate the sector, has organized countrywide workshops to train and develop the capacity of professionals in the industry about the new building code.
According to Kenya News Agency, in Nandi County, the NCA held a workshop last Tuesday at a local hotel attended by key stakeholders, including contractors, site supervisors, and the general public. Kathy Kibowen, an architect consulting for NCA, took the participants through the building code, highlighting the key provisions of the building code 2024. Kibowen stated that the code enhances safety through strict observation of construction standards across the country. She revealed that the code also focuses on space requirements, structural design and materials, parking and accessibility, environmental considerations, and health regulations.
Her counterpart, Eng. Daniel Nyongesa, who is also consulting for NCA, further explained the importance of adherence to this code, as it provides guidelines to be followed for the benefit of the citizens. He stated that when the code is strictly observed, it will have positive implications for the construction industry. ‘Some of the key benefits include enhanced safety, improved accessibility, inclusivity, regulatory compliance, and enforcement,’ he said. Nyongesa noted that people with disabilities are equally important and they need to be highly considered in the construction of buildings. ‘This will only be achieved through the application of safety standards and provision of accessibility tools like ramps, escalators, and lifts in the high-rise buildings,’ he went on.
The Nandi County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of the Department of Transport and Infrastructure, Eng. Robert Limo, asked the construction industry players present to adhere to the building code, as it will enhance safety and reduce possible additional costs in the projects. Present during the workshop was Nandi County Government Director for the Department of Disaster Management Lorraine Jerono, who applauded the NCA for conducting these sensitization forums because in the eventuality of a disaster, the people will know what to do. ‘Sensitization is necessary for the mitigation of accidents through enforcement of standard operative procedures,’ she added.
Alfred Korir, a Building and Civil Engineering lecturer at Kaiboi National Polytechnic, lauded the initiative by NCA, terming it as a revolutionary strategy in the construction industry. He insisted on the need for professionals to get accreditation through the Recognition of Prior Learning assessment tool (RPL) as a measure to curb the number of quacks in this field.