National Construction Authority (NCA) has shut down two non-compliant construction sites in Seme Sub-County, Kisumu, as part of a quality assurance crackdown following growing concerns over unsafe building practices in Kenya.

The closure orders were issued yesterday after inspections revealed that the sites lacked basic approvals, documentation and professional oversight.

The exercise comes amid heightened national scrutiny in the construction sector after a multi-storey building collapsed in Nairobi’s South C estate, triggering renewed enforcement round the country.

Speaking during the operation, NCA Central Nyanza Regional Coordinator Festus Mariera said the authority, working in collaboration with the Kisumu County government, had inspected several ongoing projects in the area, with most found to be in breach of the law.

“We sampled a number of sites in Seme Sub-County and we had a challenging day because most of the projects were not compliant. Two of them have been issued with stoppage orders,” Mariera said.

He said common violations included failure to obtain statutory approvals, absence of registered contractors and lack of qualified professionals supervising the works.

“Some developers do not even know that construction must be guided by professionals. Others are proceeding without approvals or basic documentation, which puts lives at risk,” he said.

Mariera said construction should be led by a registered professional typically an architect for building works or an engineer for civil projects who should guide the developer through approvals, documentation and engagement of licensed contractors.

He warned that contractors without valid NCA practice licences were operating illegally, noting that some recent building collapses in the country involved contractors whose licenses had expired years earlier.

“If a contractor’s practice licence is not current, then legally they are not a contractor. Undertaking works under such circumstances is a violation of the law,” he warned.

NCA official said contractors found working on undocumented or unregistered projects risk deregistration and prosecution under the National Construction Authority Act and the NCA Regulations of 2014, which are currently under review to tighten enforcement.

He also cautioned developers who engage unregistered contractors, saying they too face arrest and prosecution.

“Construction can only be undertaken by registered contractors, or for projects valued below Ksh5 million, by NCA-accredited site supervisors. Anything outside that is illegal,” he said.

Mariera said the crackdown would continue, adding that more sites were expected to be closed down to enhance compliance with building regulations.

He explained that the authority can halt construction on several grounds, including lack of a site signboard, absence of perimeter fencing, failure to observe occupational safety and health requirements, use of unaccredited workers, engagement of unregistered contractors and lack of an NCA compliance certificate.

“A site may even have a compliance certificate and still be stopped if we find safety breaches on the ground, such as failure to use protective gear or install safety netting,” he said.

“All construction projects whether residential or commercial must be registered with the NCA. Compliance is not optional, and the law will eventually catch up with offenders,” he warned.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Chris Mahandara