Engineers’ body claims 87% of buildings in Kenya are not designed by professionals and are unsafe
By Luke Oluoch, January 16, 2026Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) Coast Branch Chairperson Dancan Odhiambo has made a damning revelation about the state of buildings in Kenya, claiming that 87% lack the requisite professional standards and are therefore deemed unsafe.
Speaking to a local TV station on Friday, January 16, 2026, Odhiambo recounted how unscrupulous developers collude with county officials due to weak enforcement mechanisms and moral decay that allow corrupt practices to wash down the safety standards of the building and construction sector.
Research findings
“Research by the National Building Inspectorate done last year came up with a shocking revelation that 87 per cent of the buildings you see are not designed by professionals and are therefore unsafe. This shows a significant portion of buildings are at risk,” he said.
According to Odhiambo, the figures are a drop from a sample size of figures from 2024
Odhiambo stated that the problem stems from a rogue regime ranging from architects, engineers, and planners to the entire building ecosystem, which predisposes professionals to become rogue practises
“We have a corruption problem in this country, right from the highest offices—including the presidency—to the planner at the ground level. We are ranked number 121 out of 180 countries, with number one being the least corrupt,” he stated.
Skewed building procedure
“In Kenya now, for a developer to get a permit, they most probably bribe their way through. Most developers know where the bottleneck is—at the county—so they don’t start with an architect. They know they can easily get one later. They start with the county, which is the wrong route. There, they are given an estimate of the project,” he added.
“In most cases, the county official takes advantage and tells the developer, ‘Come, give us this amount,’ and recommends their own unregulated individuals or professionals who do the drawings—mostly unregulated.”
Odhiambo concluded by expressing the body’s commitment to adhere to professionalism and ensure the safety of Kenyans through better standards and practices.
“We are determined to bridge the gap by continuing to emulate best practices in the world,” he affirmed.
His revelation comes as the nation reels from the South C building collapse that left scores dead and several counting losses.