Nasra Nanda, CEO of Kenya Green Building Society and Special Elect MCA in Nairobi City County, has warned that unclear roles between national and county governments are slowing the adoption of green building standards in Kenya.
Speaking in an interview with Radio Generation, she defined green buildings as structures that focus on energy efficiency, water conservation, and the use of safe, low-carbon materials.
“So all in all, put that together. That’s what you, you know, would call a green building, “she said on Tuesday.
Nasra pointed out that recent efforts are promising but require strong coordination.
“In the past, Kenya has been more a voluntary market in matters sustainability; however, now I’m excited to say that we had the Government of Kenya recently sign a cooperation agreement with the IFC to mainstream green standards, and it’s just kicking off now,” she explained.
The Legislator added that the initiative is expected to influence national building codes and trickle down to zoning and planning regulations at county levels.
Despite progress, Nasra highlighted persistent challenges due to fragmented regulations: "when you talk to the National government, they say, County has no business running the approvals process. That’s essentially all get our approvals,” she said.
She emphasized the need for a clear outline of responsibilities among agencies to prevent finger-pointing and ensure accountability.
“Can we have a sit-down with these stakeholders and say, This is my role, this is your role, and then now be clear on the rules and obligations,” Nasra suggested.
Addressing claims that counties lack the capacity to enforce green building standards, Nasra argued that local authorities already have sufficient personnel.
“The number of city councilors we have, they are all over the place. And I think that is enough… soldiers on the ground, just to ensure, first of all, they everywhere to be inspect,” she said.
The City MCA stressed that qualified inspectors are key to determining compliance and ensuring green building rules are followed.
