With the recent affordable housing boom in the country, especially in Nairobi, sites with 'X' signs printed on the walls have become conspicuous.
Even though the sign sends a red alert to people looking for new places to occupy, some landlords receive a green light from the National Construction Authority (NCA) to complete such projects.
Speaking during the Third Research Dissemination Forum on Tuesday, June 20, NCA Vice Chair Mercy Okiro revealed that construction on some of the buildings with the X signs was allowed to continue after NCA lifted the suspension imposed on them.
Okiro explained that buildings are suspended and the X sign is written on the construction site for failing to meet basic requirements stipulated by NCA.
The requirements include failing to erect construction signage and securing protective gear for construction workers. According to Okiro, the suspension can be lifted once the building owner meets the requirements highlighted by NCA.
"That X can be as a result of a suspension which involves things that can be corrected.
"Sometimes a person may not have complied with basic things like putting up signage and giving construction workers protective gear. Once they are complied with, the suspension can be lifted," Okiro detailed.
Permanent X
According to Okiro, some sites have permanent X meaning construction was cancelled completely. In most cases, those projects fail to meet the construction integrity test.
In such instances, Okiro revealed that the landlords and contractors are not allowed to complete the construction works as their project poses a danger to occupants and other neighbouring projects.
The National Construction Authority recommends the demolition of projects which fail the integrity test.
Other cancelled projects commence without obtaining proper approval from NCA while some are set up on grabbed parcels of land.
Before a project is approved, owners are required to obtain regulatory approvals from National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) and Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) for structures near airports and airstrips.
They must also provide supervision commitment letters from consultants, contractors and other developers.
"An owner shall make an application for registration of a project to the Authority in writing within thirty days from the date on which a tender for construction works, contract or project is awarded to a contractor registered under this Act," NCA stipulates.
