Engineers Expose How Rogue Officials at Nairobi County Building Plans Approval System are Looting

Broken online system forces developers into year-long waits while corrupt officials demand bribes to fast-track applications

Engineers practicing in Nairobi County have blown the whistle on a systematic corruption scheme within the county government’s building plans approval system, where rogue officials are exploiting technical glitches to extort bribes from desperate developers and investors.

In damning testimony before the Nairobi County Assembly’s planning committee, the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) revealed how the county’s supposedly efficient online planning management system has become a tool for corruption, leaving genuine applicants stranded for up to 12 months while enriching corrupt officials.

System designed to fail

According to IEK President Shammah Kiteme, the Nairobi Planning and Development Management System—designed to streamline construction approvals—routinely goes blank after applicants submit their credentials and pay required fees, leaving them with no feedback on whether applications have been approved or rejected.

“Despite making the submission online, the contact person will tell you that the submission that you made was never received but they can fast-track the process for you,” Kiteme told the assembly committee. “Is this how an online system works? There should be a digital footprint for each of the applications.”

This systematic failure forces engineers and their clients into a tedious cycle of physical visits to City Hall offices, where corrupt officials lie in wait with demands for illegal payments.

The corruption scheme exposed

The corruption scheme operates with brazen simplicity: Officials claim online submissions were never received, then offer to “fast-track” applications in exchange for bribes.

The physical contact becomes necessary, engineers say, specifically to “exchange money so that the approval is carried out.”

Engineer John Robert Ogallo described how the delays are “scaring away investors” and causing local engineers to lose confidence and opportunities. “Some of them are also giving up on the investment that they want to carry out,” he told the assembly.

The contrast with other counties is stark. While approvals in counties like Machakos and Kiambu take just a few days, Nairobi applicants endure waits of up to 12 months—a delay that appears deliberately engineered to create opportunities for corruption.

Economic impact

The corruption is having severe economic consequences beyond individual projects. Investors are losing confidence in Nairobi’s construction sector, with some abandoning projects entirely due to the uncertainty and illegal demands for payments.

Engineers report that clients are giving up on construction projects after months of waiting, while the county’s reputation as a business destination suffers. The system’s failures particularly affect new registrations, making it difficult for emerging engineers to upload documents and establish their practices.

Official response awaited

County Assembly Planning Committee Chairperson Alvin Palapala has summoned county executives to answer the allegations. “We believe that this is deliberately delaying the process of approvals,” Palapala said, announcing plans to meet with county officials to demand explanations.

IEK President Kiteme has promised to provide the assembly with a list of specific officials involved in soliciting bribes, escalating what was already a serious institutional crisis.

System built for transparency, used for corruption

The Nairobi Planning and Development Management System was originally designed to bring transparency and efficiency to construction approvals, handling everything from building permits to land amalgamation and outdoor advertisements entirely online.

The system was supposed to process applications within days, eliminating the need for physical visits and reducing opportunities for corruption. Instead, it has become a sophisticated tool for extortion, with officials using technical “glitches” as cover for their illegal activities.

Engineers demand action

The engineers’ frustration has reached a breaking point after nearly a year of raising concerns with county executives without resolution. They cite unclear workflows, delayed payment confirmations, and absent feedback channels as evidence of deliberate system sabotage.

“Engineers within the county are unable to work with their clients, some of them have lost opportunities and projects are delayed,” Kiteme emphasized, calling for immediate intervention to restore system functionality and eliminate corruption.

The revelations come at a time when Nairobi County is positioning itself as East Africa’s premier business hub, making the reputational damage from these corruption allegations particularly concerning for the county’s economic future.