NAIROBI, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Kenya plans to develop a construction policy in order to boost the safety of buildings in the country, the industry regulator said on Monday.
National Construction Agency (NCA) CEO Daniel Manduku told a media briefing in Nairobi that rapid urbanization has created huge demand for houses which has made some building contractors not to adhere to strict safety standards.
"The construction policy will better streamline the construction sector by creating a systematic framework for all players to boost the safety and quality of construction works in the country," Manduku said during the commissioning of a construction industry policy formulating task force to work on a draft policy document.
This announcement comes barely one month after the Nairobi county government announced plans to demolish at least 200 buildings because government safety experts consider them unsafe.
Government data indicates that approximately 100 people died due to collapsed buildings in 2017.
Manduku noted that in the past decade, the construction industry has posted remarkable expansion and contribution to the overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.
He said the new construction policy will help to harness the current gains and to further promote the expansion of the industry for maximum sustainable socio-economic contribution.
He said lack of a construction industry policy is a hindrance to effective co-ordination efforts for the overall safety of the construction industry.
The CEO said achievement of Kenya's national Economic Blue Print Vision 2030, heavily hinges on a dependable, robust, sanitized and competitive construction sector that adapts well to the ever-changing market and technology influx in the regional and global economy.
