Government stops construction near waterways amid heavy rains

The authority said the order applies particularly to construction near waterways and further directed the cessation of all ongoing construction work when it rains.

The National Construction Authority (NCA) has stopped all new construction projects due to the risks posed by the heavy downpours in the March-May long rain season.

The NCA issued a notice on Wednesday, hours after a five-storey building collapsed in Uthiru along Naivasha Road in Nairobi. According to Bramwell Simiyu, the Nairobi County Chief Officer, Disaster Management & Coordination, all 34 tenants were accounted for.

In its announcement, the authority said the order applies particularly to construction near waterways and further directed the cessation of all ongoing construction work whenever it rains.

"When the rain starts pouring, all outdoor work must stop immediately, especially tasks carried out at heights or in deep holes," read the notice.

The NCA noted that the heavy rainfall has caused flooding in many regions, hence the need for proactive planning by all parties in the construction sector to minimise the impact.

It also ordered that children and non-essential individuals stay away from construction sites, boundary walls, and structures that may be compromised.

Further, construction workers must be trained on safety measures tailored for rainy weather, including the correct use of personal protective gear and emergency response procedures.

"Never work at heights or in deep holes without proper safety gear and precautions in place," it warned.

The NCA also emphasised the need to closely monitor evacuations to prevent accidents like slope failures and cave-ins due to increased moisture content in the soil.

Regular inspection and reinforcement of temporary structures like scaffolding are also necessary to ensure they can withstand heavy rains and strong winds.

"Concrete pouring should be scheduled during dry spells to maintain the quality of the mix and avoid issues with the water-cement ratio," read the notice.

The agency further stressed that construction workers be informed about weather forecasts and potential hazards, such as flash floods, so they can make informed decisions regarding work activities.

As of May 7, the national death toll from the floods stood at 238. An update from Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki's Interior ministry added that 174 people had been reported wounded, 75 missing, and 47,000 families, or 235,000 people, displaced.

Kindiki further reported that 167 camps had been set up across 22 counties, hosting 70,451 people, and that approximately 286,011 had been impacted by the heavy rains.