The Nairobi Metropolitan Services is set to resume approval of building plans following the restoration of the e-construction development plans application system. The site had been suspended since late last month by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services after it was hacked. NMS director general Mohammed Badi said all loopholes that might have been used by the hackers were sealed.
โAs NMS we suspended the system to seal the loophole that the hackers were using to make illegal approvals. We then called in technology experts from the Ministry of ICT and it took us almost two weeks to get the system rectified,โ said General Badi.
The system, QR code system, is part of the e-construction permit system used for the application of building plans and construction permits. It provides unique electronic identification of all approved architectural and structural plans, eliminating the need for property developers to submit hard copies of development plans for physical stamping as a mark of final approval.
Illegal buildings
At least 18 illegal buildings approval were made early this month after the online development plans approval system was hacked. Kenya Institute of Planners chairperson Joakim Nyarangi revealed that developers were staring at losing at least Sh10 billion every month.
Major General faulted the hacking saying it was caused by the failure to upgrade the e-construction system for the last four years which as a result created loopholes. The system which was owned by the Nairobi County Government was sponsored by World Bank almost four years ago.
โUnfortunately after the one year grace period of handing over to the county, the lease of maintenance by the contractor of World Bank ceased and the county was supposed to take over and upgrade it. That system has not been upgraded for the last four years,โ said Mr. Badi.
โI can say these hackers are really not outsiders but retired county staff as some had the system codes. Itโs unfortunate that desperate city residents landed in the hands of these conniving dealers and got illegal approvals,โ he added.
