Engineers warn of corruption and delays in Nairobi approvals

The Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) has expressed concern about widespread corruption, inefficiency, and systemic breakdowns in Nairobi City County's development approval process.

In a statement released on Saturday, April 26, 2025, IEK highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by its members, pointing to corruption, unwarranted rejections, and excessive delays as significant obstacles hindering professional service delivery.

The association has revealed that some county officials are allegedly soliciting informal payments to expedite approvals, undermining integrity and putting public safety at risk.

In a statement, the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) expressed grave concern over the increasing difficulties faced by its members in submitting and gaining approval for development plans in Nairobi City County.

The body highlighted the widespread frustrations caused by corruption, inefficiency, and a lack of transparency in the process.

"There is growing evidence of corrupt practices within the county’s approval system. Professionals have reported delays or arbitrary rejections of development plans unless informal payments or favours are provided. These practices damage public trust and threaten the safety and reliability of the approval process," the statement noted.

"Corruption not only slows urban development but also compromises the quality of infrastructure, exposing the public to unsafe conditions and inequitable development outcomes.”

Despite the introduction of the Nairobi Planning and Development Management System (NPDMS) for digital submissions, IEK reports that the platform is falling short, with members facing frequent delays, missing payment confirmations, and unclear processes.

"Although NPDMS was meant to streamline submissions, many development applications are still experiencing unnecessary delays. Reports suggest that unless physical follow-ups are made at county offices, submissions often remain ignored, resulting in approval timelines extending up to a year," IEK noted.

"This leaves our clients questioning the competence of engineers, and the resulting damage to our credibility poses a significant career threat to our members. The corrupt system is designed to create desperation, pushing professionals to resort to bribes to secure approvals and maintain their reputation," IEK added.

"This not only undermines the purpose of digitisation but also promotes gatekeeping and rewards rent-seeking behaviour,"

The engineers' association has called for immediate action from Nairobi City County, the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, and key oversight agencies, including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

They are demanding a comprehensive audit of the approval process, accountability for corrupt officials, a revamp of the digital platform, and structured collaboration with professional bodies to drive necessary reforms.