NAIROBI, Kenya- Starting March 2025, new buildings in Kenya will be required to incorporate smart energy and water management systems before gaining approval, thanks to the National Construction Authority’s (NCA) upcoming regulations.
The guidelines, part of the National Building Code 2024, are set to revolutionize the country’s construction landscape by promoting sustainability, reducing carbon emissions, and cutting down on utility costs.
The revised National Building Code, launched in July 2024, pushes for eco-friendly practices across Kenya’s construction industry.
Among its provisions, developers must now integrate energy-efficient systems like solar panels and water-saving technologies such as rainwater harvesting.
These green measures aim to make buildings more sustainable while lowering energy consumption—an important step as Kenya strives to reduce its carbon footprint.
According to NCA Executive Director Maurice Akech, the updated code brings emerging construction technologies and green concepts into focus.
Akech emphasized that the new guidelines are set to become fully enforceable by March 2025, allowing time for the industry to adjust while still adhering to the old code during the transition.
The updates also include optional sustainability provisions, such as electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in public areas like malls.
Not everyone in the construction sector is thrilled by the new code. Some professionals, including project managers and interior designers, initially rejected the changes, claiming the new regulations overlooked their roles.
The contentious Section 6 of the code originally specified only traditional players like architects, engineers, and surveyors as being responsible for design and supervision. This sparked concern that newer disciplines would be left out.
However, Akech assured the industry that the government has been in discussions with these professionals and that amendments will be made to include their roles.
“We’ve already engaged the professionals who had concerns, and we’re making sure their roles will be properly defined and anchored in the law,” Akech stated, indicating that future updates to the code will address these omissions.
As Kenya ushers in its new green building era, financial institutions are expected to offer exclusive incentives for green infrastructure, according to Nasra Nanda, CEO of the Kenya Green Building Society.
These offerings could help reduce the financial burden on developers looking to build more sustainable structures.
The push for green buildings comes at a critical time as the global construction industry faces increasing pressure to reduce emissions.
East Africa IFC Regional Director Mary Pescha highlighted that construction value chains contribute to roughly 40pc of industrial carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. With Kenya’s new regulations, the country aims to cut its share of that figure significantly.
