NAIROBI, Kenya – A public interest activist has moved to the High Court seeking the removal of National Construction Authority (NCA) Executive Director Maurice Akech, accusing the construction regulator of failing to prevent deadly building collapses across the country.
In a petition filed before the court, the activist argues that the recurring loss of lives from collapsed buildings reflects deep-seated regulatory failures within the NCA, which is mandated to oversee compliance with construction standards nationwide.
The petitioner contends that unsafe developments have continued to rise despite the existence of laws and enforcement powers granted to the Authority, pointing to what he describes as weak inspections, poor enforcement and a lack of accountability in the sector.
According to court documents, the activist wants the court to declare Akech unfit to hold office and to direct the relevant appointing authorities to begin his removal process.
The petition also seeks orders compelling the NCA to enhance inspections, tighten enforcement measures and publicly disclose compliance records to improve transparency and accountability.
The case links recent building collapses in Nairobi and other urban centres to alleged regulatory lapses, arguing that the failures amount to a violation of the constitutional right to life and access to safe and adequate housing.
The High Court has issued initial directions on the handling of the petition and is awaiting responses from the NCA and other respondents named in the case.
In previous statements, the NCA has maintained that it works closely with county governments and other agencies to enforce construction standards, noting that investigations are typically carried out following incidents of structural failure.
Kenya has witnessed a series of fatal building collapses in recent years, often attributed to substandard materials, unauthorized construction and weak oversight, raising persistent concerns about safety in the fast-growing construction sector.
