Architects are sounding the alarm over the absence of comprehensive geological studies necessary to guide Nakuru City's structural development.

According to the President of the Architectural Association of Kenya, Arch. George Ndege, there is a pressing need for general surveys and accessible data to inform construction and planning across different parts of the city.

Speaking on Saturday in Nakuru during a meeting with members of the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) and the launch of the Association’s South Rift Region Branch, Arch. Ndege emphasized the importance of geotechnical data in guiding construction decisions.

“There should be clear information indicating which areas are suitable for specific types of construction and which ones have weak ground-bearing capacities,” he noted.

He added that as professionals, architects depend heavily on reliable data—which he said is currently lacking—and urged the county government to conduct a comprehensive geological survey and make the findings publicly accessible.

Arch. Ndege stressed the need for thorough site analysis to determine ground-bearing capacity before construction begins. He also emphasized that building approvals should take into account the context of surrounding developments.

He noted that the Association’s current focus is on ensuring sustainable and well-informed growth in Kenya’s expanding urban centers.

Nakuru County’s Chief Officer for Housing and Urban Development, Kamau Kuria, said the county is currently evaluating and reviewing the scope of ongoing construction activities within Nakuru.

He acknowledged that geological surveys in the area have been insufficient, highlighting a critical gap in the city’s development planning.

“We cannot scientifically justify the five-floor limit at the moment; that’s why a concerted effort is needed to establish whether it’s feasible to build beyond five, seven, or even ten storeys,” Kuria said.

He added that the county has partnered with geologists from the Geothermal Development Company to help assess the ground conditions.

Nakuru City is built on a geologically unstable soil structure, a result of ancient volcanic activity that shaped the region thousands of years ago.

Every year, intense rainfall causes large fissures to appear, cutting through farms and residential areas.

According to a study published in the Journal of Mountain Science, the Rift Valley is naturally susceptible to underground erosion and the formation of ground fissures.

The article, titled “Formation and Development of Underground Erosion Ground Fissures in the Rift Valley” and published in April 2022, explains that water tends to follow defined infiltration paths—an ongoing process that gradually undermines ground stability in the region.

In a separate study, Isaac Kiprono Kanda, a research student at the University of Nairobi, noted that Nakuru’s geology is primarily composed of volcanic soils and rocks dating back to the Tertiary-Quaternary period.

His research highlighted that these formations have been altered by faulting and are overlain by more recent sediments.

Kanda submitted his dissertation as part of his master's degree in applied geochemistry at the university’s College of Biological and Physical Sciences in March 2010.

Earlier, in 2007, the Department of Mines and Geology submitted a report to the now-defunct Municipal Council of Nakuru detailing the presence of fault lines and ground fissures in the town and its environs.

The report was intended to guide local authorities in making informed decisions when approving building plans.