The City Council of Nairobi has launched an e-Construction Permit Management System, which will see the council review and approve building plans online.
The e-Construction Permit Management System, a first in Africa, will enable developers to apply for construction permits and submit building plans for approval by the city council online as part of the ongoing reforms at City Hall.
Developed with the help of World Bank, the digital system will allow architects submitting their plans to monitor the progress of the review process by logging into the system.
“The system will also notify applicants via SMS text and email whenever their proposals complete key milestones during evaluation and approval,” Mr Tom Odongo, the director of planning said during the launch.
The e-permit is expected to reduce the time required to approve building plans and eradicate corruption loopholes in the council as all payment systems will be automated.
“It will be mandatory to use the automated system from January 2012 and make payments on-line when submitting applications,” said Mr Odongo.
Speaking during the event, Minister for Local Government Musalia Mudavadi warned builders who alter building plans after they have been approved by the council.
“Individuals who abandon their supervisory role of the projects once they get their plans approved will be prosecuted,” said Mr Mudavadi.
The City Council issues permits authorising construction of new buildings and renovation of existing approved buildings within the city.
