Built Environment Chiefs Blame Developer Impunity and County Corruption for Deadly Building Collapses

By. Bruno Aero Family Media Staff Writer

The Presidents and all amalgameted leadership of Kenya’s leading built environment professional bodies have strongly condemned the alarming rise in building collapses across Nairobi and other parts of the country, warning that continued failures point to deep-rooted systemic rot rather than isolated technical mistakes.

In a rare show of unity, the leadership of the Joint Built Environment Professionals — led by Eng. Shammah Kiteme, President of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK), Surv. Eric Nyadimo, President of the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK), and George A. Ndege, President of the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) — said the recurring incidents have resulted in the loss of lives, destruction of livelihoods, and a dangerous erosion of public confidence in the construction sector.

Eric Nyadimo, President of the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) during the press conference.

The leaders announced that presidents and representatives from nine key professional bodies will issue a comprehensive joint statement outlining urgent demands for accountability and far-reaching reforms, moving beyond the culture of scapegoating individual professionals after tragedies have already occurred.

Professional Accountability

The joint leadership affirmed a firm commitment to calling out and disciplining professionals who violate ethical and technical standards, while stressing that accountability must be accurately directed at the true perpetrators of malpractice.

“We will not shield rogue professionals, but neither will we accept blanket blame when failures are driven by impunity, corruption, and political interference,” the leaders stated.

Sen. Arch. Sylvia M. Kasanga – President, The Architects Alliance (TAA)

Developer Impunity Under Scrutiny

Speaking during the briefing, IEK President Eng. Shammah Kiteme singled out developer impunity as a major driver of unsafe construction.

“We are demanding an end to the exploitation of financial power by unregulated developers who bypass planning and construction regulations, intimidate professionals, and cut corners at the expense of human life,” Kiteme said.

County-Level Failures

The professional bodies also pointed to county governments as a critical weak link, citing:Corruption in development approvals

Severe capacity gaps in development control departments

Political interference that overrides technical advice

They warned that without reform at the county level, building failures will continue regardless of how many professionals are blamed or arrested after disasters.

Proposed Systemic Reforms

To address the crisis, the built environment professionals proposed sweeping reforms, including:

The establishment of a centralized National Planning System to standardize development approvals across all counties

Introduction of mandatory peer reviews for structural designs, especially for high-rise and complex developments

Stronger enforcement mechanisms that protect professionals who refuse to participate in unsafe or illegal projects

The leaders emphasized that Kenya is facing a national safety crisis, not a professional rivalry, and warned that unless decisive action is taken, more Kenyans will continue to die under collapsed buildings.

“Buildings do not collapse by accident. They collapse because systems fail, rules are ignored, and accountability is avoided,” the statement concluded.