The new National Building Code is going to be a catalyst to the manufacturing sector in the country, a board member with the National Construction Authority (NCA), Mutinda Mutuku, has said.
Mutuku said that the building code incorporates provisions for sustainable materials, new technologies and disaster resilience besides ensuring sanitation facilities at construction sites.
“The building code is designed with adaptability and innovation in mind and incorporates provisions for sustainable materials and new technologies and disaster resilience,” said Mutuku, who is the President of the Institute of Quantity Surveyors of Kenya.
“It addresses inclusivity by ensuring sanitation facilities for all genders at the construction sites. The code will be a catalyst for the growth, particularly of the manufacturing sector,” he posed during a sensitisation training of contractors, site supervisors and construction workers at a hotel in Wote town on Thursday.
He observed that the new code came into being after it was established that the e1968 code was inadequate, lacking effective and objective controls and enforcement mechanisms, compounded with the collapsing of buildings in the 1990s.
“The need to review the code arose out of the construction collapses witnessed in this country in the 1990s. In 1996, the collapse of the Sunbeam Building led the Dr. R.G. Mutiso-led Commission publish a study entitled; ‘examining the existing Building laws, By-laws and Regulations; made recommendations with a view to prevent similar incidents,” said Mutuku.
Consequently, he called for concerted efforts from all stakeholders to own the document and help in sensitising the public so that they get familiar with the new building code to avoid being penalised.
“This is a communal effort, and call upon sister agencies, county and national government as well as partners to proudly own and share the code with relevant stakeholders,” he observed.
The code came into effect in March 2025.
Speaking at the same forum, Makueni County Commissioner Duncan Darusi said it was imperative for NCA to partner with other agencies to sensitise the public, saying the document touches on humanity.
Darusi urged contractors and developers to appreciate the steps taken by the NCA and ensure they follow the laws accordingly in an effort to avoid the collapsing of buildings that has been witnessed in the country in the past.
“People in the construction industry must be ready to follow the new code so as to prevent the collapse of buildings. Sensitisation should be continuous; those present must be agents of NCA,” said Darusi.
On his part, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Infrastructure and energy Eng Peter Mumo, blamed politicians for politicising government institutions that lead to the collapse of buildings.
Mumo emphasised the need for all those in the construction industry to adhere to the new code of building so as to avoid collapses of buildings in the country.
By Patrick Nyakundi
