NAIROBI, Kenya – Starting March 2025, all new buildings in Kenya must integrate smart energy and water management systems before receiving construction approval, according to the National Construction Authority (NCA).
This mandate aligns with the newly introduced National Building Code 2024, which aims to revolutionize the country’s construction industry by promoting sustainability, safety, and resilience.
These regulations also extend to the installation of electric vehicle charging ports in public spaces like shopping malls, further emphasizing the shift towards a more energy-efficient and environmentally conscious infrastructure.
Under these guidelines, new constructions will be required to adopt practices that significantly reduce electricity consumption and carbon emissions.
The National Building Code 2024, launched on July 17, 2024, and published as a Legal Notice on March 1, 2024, represents a major overhaul of Kenya’s outdated building regulations, which date back to 1968.
The updated code not only includes provisions for sustainable development but also integrates modern construction technologies and green practices, with a particular focus on energy and water efficiency.
“The new code becomes effective on March 1, 2025, marking the beginning of a new era in Kenya’s construction sector,” said NCA Executive Director Maurice Akech. “We are currently transitioning from the old code to this new framework, which embraces advanced technologies and sustainable building practices.”
Akech highlighted that the updated regulations aim to encourage the use of eco-friendly materials and energy-saving technologies, such as solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems, to minimize the environmental impact of new developments.
“Sustainability is not just about regulations; it is about making conscious choices in our daily lives that contribute to reducing our carbon footprint and promoting a circular economy,” he added.
However, the new code has faced some resistance from professionals within the built environment sector, particularly project managers, interior designers, and landscape architects, who felt their roles were not adequately recognized in the legislation.
Akech assured that the government is addressing these concerns and will amend the code to include the necessary provisions once the roles of these professionals are clearly defined.
The push towards sustainable construction is further supported by financial institutions, which are expected to offer exclusive green infrastructure financing options.
According to Mary Pescha, East Africa IFC Regional Director, the construction industry is a significant contributor to global carbon dioxide emissions, accounting for approximately 40% of industrial-related emissions.
The announcement of the new building code coincided with the Annual Conference of the Kenya Green Building Society, themed “Creating a Sustainable and Inclusive Tomorrow: Innovating the Greenprint for Our Urban Future.”
The event, which brought together over 200 stakeholders from the built environment sector, focused on promoting sustainable and resilient urban development in Kenya and across Africa.
This mandate aligns with the newly introduced National Building Code 2024, which aims to revolutionize the country’s construction industry by promoting sustainability, safety, and resilience.
These regulations also extend to the installation of electric vehicle charging ports in public spaces like shopping malls, further emphasizing the shift towards a more energy-efficient and environmentally conscious infrastructure.
Under these guidelines, new constructions will be required to adopt practices that significantly reduce electricity consumption and carbon emissions.
The National Building Code 2024, launched on July 17, 2024, and published as a Legal Notice on March 1, 2024, represents a major overhaul of Kenya’s outdated building regulations, which date back to 1968.
The updated code not only includes provisions for sustainable development but also integrates modern construction technologies and green practices, with a particular focus on energy and water efficiency.
“The new code becomes effective on March 1, 2025, marking the beginning of a new era in Kenya’s construction sector,” said NCA Executive Director Maurice Akech. “We are currently transitioning from the old code to this new framework, which embraces advanced technologies and sustainable building practices.”
Akech highlighted that the updated regulations aim to encourage the use of eco-friendly materials and energy-saving technologies, such as solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems, to minimize the environmental impact of new developments.
“Sustainability is not just about regulations; it is about making conscious choices in our daily lives that contribute to reducing our carbon footprint and promoting a circular economy,” he added.
However, the new code has faced some resistance from professionals within the built environment sector, particularly project managers, interior designers, and landscape architects, who felt their roles were not adequately recognized in the legislation.
Akech assured that the government is addressing these concerns and will amend the code to include the necessary provisions once the roles of these professionals are clearly defined.
The push towards sustainable construction is further supported by financial institutions, which are expected to offer exclusive green infrastructure financing options.
According to Mary Pescha, East Africa IFC Regional Director, the construction industry is a significant contributor to global carbon dioxide emissions, accounting for approximately 40% of industrial-related emissions.
The announcement of the new building code coincided with the Annual Conference of the Kenya Green Building Society, themed “Creating a Sustainable and Inclusive Tomorrow: Innovating the Greenprint for Our Urban Future.”
The event, which brought together over 200 stakeholders from the built environment sector, focused on promoting sustainable and resilient urban development in Kenya and across Africa.
