The Role of Consultants in Enhancing Safety Standards of Private Building Construction in Nairobi County, Kenya

Nairobi County, Kenya, has experienced a boom in the construction of private buildings due to rapid urbanisation. However, the buildings are increasingly collapsing due to poor practice and poor enforcement of regulations. Retaining consultants such as architects, engineers, and project managers to mediate between the rules (regulatory) and application in the field (physical building) is essential to public safety. This study aimed to investigate consultants’ role in safeguarding private buildings in Nairobi County, Kenya, which faces challenges of rapid urbanisation and concerns about the quality of construction. Using a sequential exploratory research design, the study explored consultants’ roles in designing safety and security features, providing technical advice, quality control, risk management, and impact assessments. Purposive sampling and stratified sampling were used to select 82 consultants. Descriptive statistics analysed the data. The findings showed that 58.6% of respondents were frequently or consistently involved in safety design development and implementation, and 75.8% provided expert advice regularly at project planning stages. Likewise, 86.2% of consultants reported ensuring quality assurance and control. However, there remains room to improve the consistency and thoroughness across all projects. Guided by the Public Interest Theory of Regulation, the research demonstrates how consultants uphold public safety by mediating between regulatory frameworks and construction practices.