Developers who add unauthorised floors face fines of up to Sh3 million or three years in jail as the authority steps up nationwide compliance inspections.
By John Kariuki
The National Construction Authority (NCA) has stepped up enforcement against developers who illegally alter approved building designs by adding extra floors without obtaining fresh structural approvals, warning that such violations endanger lives and undermine confidence in Kenya’s construction sector.
Developers found flouting construction regulations risk fines of up to Sh3 million, imprisonment for up to three years, or both, under the NCA Act.
The latest enforcement operation in Mombasa saw one developer arrested after allegedly extending a seven-storey building without the necessary regulatory approvals. The action forms part of the authority’s nationwide quality assurance and compliance programme aimed at ensuring every construction project adheres to approved standards.
Speaking during the inspections, NCA Compliance Manager Stephen Mwilu said several buildings inspected had originally been approved for a specific number of floors but were subsequently extended without fresh structural assessments or authorisation from the relevant authorities.
Mwilu warned that altering approved designs without verifying whether the foundation and structural framework can safely support additional loads exposes occupants, construction workers and neighbouring communities to catastrophic risks.
“Our role is to oversee and coordinate the construction industry to ensure all legal requirements are met. Where we find non-compliance, we suspend projects until the issues are rectified,” he said.
The intensified inspections come amid broader scrutiny of construction standards across Kenya, following a series of structural failures that have claimed lives and prompted emergency interventions by government agencies. Among the most dramatic was the April 2025 controlled demolition by the Kenya Defence Forces of an 11-storey building at Kilifi Corner, Fayaz Estate, along Abdel Nasser Road in Mombasa, after the structure began sinking due to an unauthorised borehole drilled into its foundation. One man, Yusuf Ali Abdi, died after entering the building as it collapsed. The episode reinforced the need for strict regulatory oversight before, during and after construction.
The NCA’s enforcement drive reflects a commitment to promoting professionalism, accountability and safety within Kenya’s rapidly expanding construction industry. Under Executive Director Maurice Akech, the authority has enhanced inspections, strengthened collaboration with county governments and industry stakeholders, and reinforced adherence to the NCA Act and national building standards.
As Kenya experiences rapid urbanisation, the authority has reiterated that public safety is non-negotiable. Compliance with approved building plans, professional standards and structural integrity, it says, remains the foundation of a safe and sustainable construction sector.
