Structural failures and development control in Kenya: a regulatory and institutional analysis

Abstract

Shelter is a fundamental human need, yet in many rapidly urbanising African cities, the pursuit of affordable housing has increasingly produced unsafe buildings and recurrent structural failures. In Kenya, frequent building collapses over recent decades have resulted in loss of life, injuries, displacement, and substantial economic losses. This paper examines the relationship between structural failures and development control in Kenya using a qualitative, desk-based analytical approach grounded in documentary and comparative review. It situates the Kenyan experience within broader global and regional urbanisation dynamics, reviews the contemporary statutory and institutional framework governing development control, and synthesises empirical and documentary evidence on the causes of building collapse. Drawing on comparative literature from Kenya, Nigeria, and wider urban studies, the paper identifies key drivers of failure, including weak regulatory enforcement, engagement of unqualified practitioners, rent-seeking and corruption, technical design and construction deficiencies, poor maintenance, and inadequate regulatory review. The analysis develops a conceptual framework that links regulatory architecture, institutional capacity, professional ethics, and developer behaviour to building performance outcomes. It advances policy-oriented recommendations to improve safety, accountability, and resilience in Kenya’s construction sector.