BY: SAMUEL NJAGI CHARAGU, HSC, P.

E
.FIEK

The 20th Engineers International

conference at Tom Mboya labour college,
Kisumu

The collapse of buildings under construction has

exposed the ills that bedevil the building sector.
The frequent collapse of structures in Kenya
leading to injuries and deaths in the past is a
matter of great concern.
These construction site accidents which are
avoidable have claimed lives of innocent Kenyans
robbing families of their breadwinners and loved
ones; causing irreparable damage to the injured
workers and people who eke out a living trading
around the construction site.

Kenya has experienced frequent collapse of

buildings. The most vivid are the collapse of
a building in Nairobi Ronald Ngala in 2006,
collapse of a building in Kiambu town in
2009, another building in Kiambu in 2010
and at pipeline, Embakasi in June 2011.
Over the last six years, a number of
buildings some under construction and
others completed have collapsed in Nairobi
and other major towns in Kenya as
indicated by table below.

Description

Date

Casualties

Reported
causes of
failure

Ronald Ngala Junction

bldg

23/9/2006

14 dead
Several injured

Causes of failure
were poor design
and supervision,
poor materials and
workmanship.

Kisii Collapsed
Building at Kisii
district

6/06/09

1 dead
11 hospitalized

Concrete not
meeting minimum
strength for
structural elements
(Core strength=
14.7N/mm2<
25N/mm2)
Construction
exceeded by 3
floors shows lack of
proper monitoring
and supervision.

Description

Date

Casualties

Reported causes of
failure

Comcraft House
in Nairobi City

16/09/2008

None

Corroded supporting
RHS which lowered its
strength. Major causeLack of regular
maintenance.

Kiambu Town
Buildings

19/10/09

Dead 16
Survived with
injuries 16

-Strength concrete
( 7.3N/mm2 -7.7 N/mm2
<25 N/mm2 Design
strength)
Design issues
-No records of
approval of works at
every stage of
construction

Building in
Pipeline Estate,
Embakasi

14/06/11

4 dead
14Unaccounted
Many injured
& hospitalized

-Strength concrete
( 7.7N/mm2 -9.4 N/mm2
<25 N/mm2 Design
strength)
-Poor workmanship
-Inadequate designs

 An

article by Eng. Mambo mentioned ten

reasons which can lead to collapse of
structures. These include; inadequate
geotechnical and materials investigations,
use of inappropriate specifications and
manuals, incompetent design, poor
workmanship, lack of ethics, poor
supervision, close relationship between
parties to the contract, use of
inappropriate materials, weak laws and
corruption.(April 2010 IEK Journal Vol.31)

Analyzing reports from Ministry of public works on

collapsed structures, the Structural Engineers
concluded that most buildings failed due to lack
of proper supervision and poor construction
procedures. In this case the blame can be
apportioned to the designers or contractors
supervisory staff as well as the councils
inspection staff. Actually all stakeholders can be
blamed (MOPW Report 2006).

To identify the challenges facing the Kenyan

construction industry in respect to
collapsing structures, a study to determine
the major cause of collapse of buildings in
Kenya and to establish the major challenges
to quality control in building projects was
carried out by Eng. S.N. Charagu when
under taking a MSc course at Jomo Kenyatta
University of Agriculture and Technology.

 The

research was carried out through

Surveys, Questionnaires, analysis of data
from Ministry of public works, analysis of
experimental data obtained from non
destructive and material tests for ongoing
works.

 Questions

were formulated and given to

different stake holders involved in
construction works. Observations were
conducted from randomly chosen
construction sites and supervising team.
This helped to supplement the
questionnaires. Care was taken to avoid
suspicion and the research was conducted
in a way that prevented errors from false
information.

 The

results showed that lack of quality

control on construction materials and
workmanship contributed to the collapse of
building structures.
Execution
of work without approval,
unskilled workers, batching methods, lack of
supervision and deficient designs were
among the factors leading to collapse of
building structures. It was also found that
the designers do not follow their designs
leading to poor construction.

Reasons for increase in collapsing buildings

Increase in number of constructions works
Too many unqualified contractors
Various upcoming projects with no professional
engagement
Total

%
45.0
30.0
25.0
100.0

Tools
Frequent material testing
The integrity of both the engineer on site, contractor and client
Regular testing of work at every stage
Ensure that all concrete works are tested before undertaken
Approval of materials before use.
Impromptu site visits
Competent contractors
The contract conditions
Encouragement of staff
Regular reports
Advising through client
Templates
Cube strength tests
Total

%
36.0
14.0
16.0
4.0
7.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
3.0
100.0

Suggestions for improving quality

More quality control information from consultants
Engagement of competent and experienced persons with
integrity
More supervision of the works by the Supervising
Engineer
More cooperation from Employer, Engineers, and
Contractor
Materials are tested for compliance with specifications
Assigning more time for training on importance of
Quality
More cooperation from the government supervisors
Transparency in tendering
Total

%
21.0
22.0
18.0
8.0
15.0
9.0
2.0
5.0
100.0

It was also noted that some foremen do not

follow the specifications and are not keen on
procedures in construction.
During construction, a drawing is issued to
the foremen who are required to study and
ensure the drawing conforms to the building
dimensions. But most of the sites use
unskilled labour who are unable to read the
drawings and it was noted that the
Engineers are unavailable to intepret and
check the works.

Confirmation that the designs and drawings

dimensions conform to the proposed structure.
Testing of the materials to conform to
specifications in designs. This includes carrying
out a mix design for the concrete works.
Engagement of a qualified person for daily
supervision of the works. He should ensure
approval of works at various stages of
construction.
Proper construction equipment which are well
maintained by the contractor are on site.

The causes of collapse of buildings

structures can be concluded as follows:
Most Engineers did not carry out the designs by
themselves. Some structures collapsed because
of deficiency of the designs.
Site agents and foremen are not keen on quality
control on construction materials and
construction processes leading to poor
workmanship.
Some contractors execute work with sub
standard materials. Data collected established
the problem of lack of tested materials.

Problems with execution of work by contractor

without approval. This was also due to lack of
supervision by designers who are not available to
give advise to the contractor.
Unskilled workers, who assume they know,
prepared concrete mix leading to low concrete
strength which led to collapse of structures.
The Engineers and site agents are not keen on
batching methods, lack of proper equipment and
tools was an hindrance to proper concrete mix.

 Experiments

established that poor concrete

grade was used for reinforced concrete
structure which could not carry the intended
loading leading to collapse of structure.
The study also concluded that cases of poor
designs and poor workmanship had not
decreased even after hearing and seeing
the collapse of buildings in Kenya; the cases
being reported were higher than previous
ones.

 There

is need for Engineers to be keen on

their designs and check the drawings. This
will eliminate deficiency in designs.
There should be more supervision of the
works by the Supervising Engineer, making
sure that materials are tested for
compliance with specifications and
assigning more time for training on
importance of quality.

Since the major cause of collapse of

buildings is concrete works, mix designs be
done before any concrete works are carried
out and the supervising Engineer to ensure
that adopted mix design are followed during
construction.
The need for government supervisors (Local
authorities) to ensure by-laws are followed
and making sure that there is an efficient
system of reporting poor work.

The Government has enacted two laws, The

Engineers Act, 2011, No.43 giving mandate to
Engineers Board of Kenya to enter site and check
what the professionals have designed (section
7(1) (g). The EBK to take their position.
The National Construction Authority Act, 2011
established the National Construction Authority,
with the mandate to register and regulate all
contractors in the country. The MOPW under
whose docket this authority falls should exercise
their mandate.

Eng. Sam Mambo. (2010). Why Engineering

Structures Fail. Journal of the institution of
Engineers of Kenya, Vol. 31, Issue 2 , pg 28-29.
Kenya Standard KS 2183:2009 (KEBS 2009):
General Concrete works Code of practice
Eng. Charagu S.N. (2013) MSc Thesis on
Collapsing building structures in Kenya, JKUAT.
Ministry of Public Works MOPW 1976, General
Specifications for Building Works.
Ministry of Public works (MOPW)
http://www.publicworks.go.ke. Engineers Reports
on projects.

THANK YOU