Kenya’s long-running debate over building safety has returned to Parliament, with MPs putting the National Construction Authority (NCA) on the spot over building collapses, enforcement against contractors and the effectiveness of construction oversight.
The latest parliamentary scrutiny does not come as a surprise to those who have followed Kenya’s building-safety concerns over the years. Building collapses have previously triggered investigations, public outrage and calls for tougher enforcement.
What is new, however, is the renewed demand from Parliament for specific answers on what happens after a building fails — who is held responsible, how many cases have resulted in prosecution or sanctions, and whether the existing regulatory system is working effectively.
That makes the latest development more than another story about a collapsed building. It raises a much bigger question for Kenya’s property market:
How can a homebuyer be confident that the house or apartment they are buying has been properly designed, supervised and constructed?
MPs demand answers from the National Construction Authority
On Friday, August 28, 2026, members of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works questioned Acting NCA Chief Executive Officer Qs. Susan Rutto over building collapses and the actions taken against contractors, developers and professionals linked to unsafe construction.
Committee members wanted the NCA to provide specific information on the causes of building failures and the enforcement action taken against those found responsible.
Committee Vice Chair Rindikiri Mugambi pressed the authority for details on actions against contractors, including how many had been prosecuted.
The questioning puts the spotlight on an issue that has repeatedly troubled Kenya’s rapidly expanding construction industry: whether regulations are being enforced strongly enough to prevent unsafe buildings from being constructed in the first place.
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NCA reports more than 100 building collapses
According to the NCA, more than 100 building collapses have been reported in Kenya over the past three decades.
The authority told MPs that it had conducted 93 formal inquiries into structural failures.
The NCA identified several recurring factors behind structural failures, including non-compliance with building standards, inadequate professional supervision, poor workmanship and the use of substandard construction materials.
Where contractor negligence is established, the authority can issue warnings, suspend contractors or deregister firms. Cases involving professional misconduct can also be referred to the relevant regulatory bodies.
The figures provide important context. The latest parliamentary discussion is not about one isolated incident but about a regulatory challenge that has persisted across decades.
MPs question the relationship between NCA and counties
Another important issue raised during the parliamentary session was the relationship between the NCA and county governments.
Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris questioned the division of responsibilities between national and county authorities, noting that county governments are frequently the first institutions blamed publicly when buildings collapse.
The question is important because building control involves several layers of government and professional regulation.
For the ordinary property buyer, however, these institutional distinctions can be difficult to understand.
A buyer may simply assume that if a development has received the necessary approvals, it must automatically be safe.
But the latest parliamentary discussion suggests that approval, supervision, construction quality and enforcement are all separate but interconnected parts of building safety.
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Parliament calls for stronger construction supervision
MPs also raised concerns about construction-site supervision.
Daniel Manduku called for stronger supervision of construction sites and standardised structural calculations and designs, arguing that having a resident engineer at a project helps ensure that construction proceeds properly.
Another MP, Innocent Obiri, focused on the people physically carrying out construction work, calling for greater training of artisans.
Joshua Kimilu, meanwhile, raised concerns about unqualified practitioners and loopholes that allow what he described as “quacks” to operate within the construction industry.
These concerns point to something that is sometimes overlooked in conversations about property.
A building is not created by an architectural drawing alone.
Between the drawing and the finished house are engineers, contractors, supervisors, fundis, suppliers, material manufacturers and many other people whose decisions can ultimately affect the safety and durability of the structure.
NCA proposes tougher rules for developers
Perhaps the most significant development for property developers is the NCA’s proposal to change the law so that developers would come more directly under its regulatory framework.
According to the authority, some building failures occur after developers disengage registered professionals and contractors once initial approvals have been secured.
The proposed changes would make developers directly responsible for ensuring that construction continues according to approved designs and standards.
The NCA has also proposed stronger regulation of construction-material suppliers because adulterated and substandard materials can compromise structural safety.
If such changes eventually become law, they could have important implications for the Kenyan development industry.
They would also reinforce an increasingly important principle:
The responsibility for a safe building cannot end with obtaining approval.
Parliament’s latest concerns extend beyond collapsed buildings
The building-safety debate is also appearing in other parliamentary proceedings.
A public petition presented to the National Assembly on August 27 raised concerns about a large development under construction in Watamu. The petitioners questioned issues including the project’s environmental compliance, proximity to the ocean, whether the structure corresponded with approved architectural and structural plans, and whether all necessary approvals and certificates had been obtained.
The petition also stated that NEMA and the NCA had previously inspected the development and issued notices. Parliament committed the matter to the Public Petitions Committee for consideration.
The Watamu petition is not evidence that the development is unsafe or unlawful; those matters remain subject to the appropriate investigations and due process.
But its appearance alongside the latest NCA scrutiny illustrates the wider public concern surrounding construction approvals, compliance, inspection and enforcement.
What does all this mean for someone buying a house?
This is where the parliamentary debate becomes particularly relevant to ordinary Kenyans.
Most homebuyers are not structural engineers.
When purchasing a house, maisonette, apartment or gated-community property, the buyer is generally looking at things they can easily understand: location, price, number of bedrooms, finishes, security, roads, amenities and potential appreciation.
Structural integrity is much harder for the average buyer to assess.
That is precisely why professional oversight matters.
A prospective buyer should therefore look beyond the appearance of a finished house and ask questions about the development process.
1. Who designed the property?
Buyers should establish whether the architectural and structural work was undertaken by appropriately qualified professionals.
2. Who constructed it?
The identity and track record of the contractor matter.
A developer should be able to explain who is responsible for construction and how the project is supervised.
3. Is construction being supervised professionally?
The latest parliamentary discussion places considerable emphasis on professional supervision.
Buyers should therefore ask how structural and construction quality is monitored throughout the project.
4. Are the materials being tested and sourced properly?
A beautiful house constructed using poor-quality materials can still present serious long-term problems.
The NCA’s renewed concern about substandard and adulterated construction materials makes this an especially important consideration.
5. Does the completed development correspond with the approved plans?
Changes made during construction can potentially create regulatory and structural problems.
A responsible buyer should therefore ask whether the completed development conforms to its approved plans.
Safety should become part of the homebuying conversation
For years, property marketing has understandably focused on the features buyers can see.
Three bedrooms.
A spacious kitchen.
A private garden.
A gated community.
Good roads.
Security.
Modern finishes.
But there is another feature that cannot always be photographed:
the integrity of the structure itself.
The latest parliamentary scrutiny is a reminder that the quality of a home begins long before the buyer receives the keys.
It begins with design.
It continues through approvals.
It depends on professional supervision.
It depends on quality materials.
It depends on competent workmanship.
And it ultimately depends on accountability.
What responsible property development should look like
The latest parliamentary discussion presents an important opportunity for Kenya’s property industry to move the conversation beyond price and appearance.
For developers, construction compliance should not be treated simply as a regulatory hurdle.
It should be regarded as part of the value delivered to the customer.
For homebuyers, the lesson is equally important: do not evaluate a property only by what you can see. Investigate the process that produced it.
At Willstone Homes, we believe that a home is more than walls, roofs and finishes. It is a long-term investment in the safety, comfort and future of a family.
That makes construction quality, professional oversight, proper planning and responsible development central to the homebuying conversation — not optional extras.
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The bigger question for Kenya’s property market
Parliament’s latest engagement with the NCA may eventually lead to stronger enforcement, greater developer accountability and possible changes to the regulatory framework.
For now, however, one message is already clear.
Kenya’s building-safety conversation is far from over.
The NCA is expected to submit a written report to the parliamentary committee covering the 93 formal inquiries, collapse statistics, casualties, enforcement measures and the status of prosecutions.
That report could provide an even clearer picture of where Kenya’s construction-regulation system stands and what further action may be required.
For prospective homeowners, the lesson is immediate: when choosing a property, look beyond the brochure, the show house and the price tag. Ask how the home was designed, who built it, who supervised the work and whether the development meets the required standards.
Because when it comes to a home, quality is not merely about how good it looks on handover day. It is about how responsibly it was built.
