The Role of Consultants in Enhancing Safety Standards of Private Building Construction in Nairobi County, Kenya

• Elon Matendechere Were

  National Defence University - Kenya

  Author

• Benardette W. Sabuni

  Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.

  Author

• Wamalwa W. Chrispinus

  Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.

  Author

Nairobi County, Kenya, has experienced a boom in the construction of private buildings due to rapid urbanisation. However, the buildings are increasingly collapsing due to poor practice and poor enforcement of regulations. Retaining consultants such as architects, engineers, and project managers to mediate between the rules (regulatory) and application in the field (physical building) is essential to public safety. This study aimed to investigate consultants’ role in safeguarding private buildings in Nairobi County, Kenya, which faces challenges of rapid urbanisation and concerns about the quality of construction. Using a sequential exploratory research design, the study explored consultants’ roles in designing safety and security features, providing technical advice, quality control, risk management, and impact assessments. Purposive sampling and stratified sampling were used to select 82 consultants. Descriptive statistics analysed the data. The findings showed that 58.6% of respondents were frequently or consistently involved in safety design development and implementation, and 75.8% provided expert advice regularly at project planning stages. Likewise, 86.2% of consultants reported ensuring quality assurance and control. However, there remains room to improve the consistency and thoroughness across all projects. Guided by the Public Interest Theory of Regulation, the research demonstrates how consultants uphold public safety by mediating between regulatory frameworks and construction practices.

1. Elon Matendechere Were, National Defence University - Kenya

   Lt Col Elon Were is a senior Kenya Defence Forces officer from the Corps of Engineers. He is a specialist in mine action and disaster management in the field of urban search and rescue, with exposure to hazardous materials incident management. He commanded the KDF Disaster Response Battalion and vastly experienced in training, currently deployed as a Senior Directing Staff at the premier Joint Command and Staff College—Karen.

2. Benardette W. Sabuni, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.

   Prof. Eng. Bernadette Waswa Sabuni holds a PhD in Disaster Preparedness and Engineering Management and has extensive experience in engineering disaster mitigation. She has worked as an assistant engineer and chief technologist at the University of Nairobi, focusing on low-cost building materials. At Masinde Muliro University, she has held various leadership roles, including Dean of the School of Engineering and Built Environment. In 2021, she received the “Distinguished Woman in Engineering Education Award” for her contributions to engineering education in Kenya.

3. Wamalwa W. Chrispinus, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.

   Dr. Wamalwa Chrispinus W. Mukoche is a technology education expert specializing in building construction technology. He holds a D.Phil. in technology education specializing in Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) from the University of Eldoret, an M.Phil. in Technology Education and a Bed. Technology Education from Moi University. He is a career manager of TVET with experience spanning over 20 years. He holds a certificate in TVET Management from Seoul Institute of Vocational Training in Advanced Technology (SIVAT) in the Republic of South Korea. Dr. Wamalwa has over 20 years of teaching at the university and has been actively involved in the construction field as a contractor for over 15 years. He has published a book on housing conditions of PWD in slums and five (5) journal articles. He has done research in the informal sector production and construction management. Currently, he is a lecturer in the Department of Civil and Structural Engineering at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.

• pdf

Copyright (c) 2025 Elon Matendechere Were, Benardette W. Sabuni , Wamalwa W. Chrispinus (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.