Picture this. You’ve been saving for years, skipping fancy holidays, eating ugali and sukuma instead of steak, because you have a dream; building your own place. Finally, the big day comes. You hire fundis, buy materials and construction kicks off. Life feels good.

But then, out of nowhere, the unthinkable happens. The building collapses before it’s even complete. Your money? Gone. Worse, people are injured. Suddenly, instead of planning a house-warming party, you’re facing lawsuits, criminal charges and sleepless nights. Tragic, right?

Now… rewind. Imagine a different storyline. Same dream, same savings but this time, before laying even a single brick, you register your project with the National Construction Authority (NCA). Guess what? Registration is absolutely free. With just a few documents and a quick online process (https://www.nca.go.ke/project-registration), your project is compliant, approved and handled by qualified professionals.

This time, instead of collapsed walls, you get a strong, safe home that stands tall for your family, tenants or business. Your hard-earned money? Secure. Your peace of mind? Priceless.

So here’s the thing:

NCA isn’t here to stress you, it’s here to protect you.

The whole point of project registration is simple, making sure only qualified contractors, construction workers, engineers and architects touch your project. That way, your investment will not go down the drain.

And the best part, you don’t have to queue at any NCA office or chase people around. From the comfort of your desk, laptop or computer, you log on to NCA’s portal, upload your documents, and boom, you’re done. Easy-peasy!

At this point, you have two options. Register your project with NCA and build smart or skip the process, cut corners, and risk lawsuits, losses or worse. Choose your hard! As a law-abiding citizen and a good investor, I know you will choose the former. Check below for what you will need on this process:

1. Registered contractor and subcontractor with valid NCA license

2. Licensed project consultants (engineer, architect, QS) registered with EBK, BORAQS, etc.

3. Approved architectural and structural drawings

4. County physical planning approvals (PPA2/permits)

5. Other relevant approvals (NEMA, EPRA, WRA, KCAA where applicable)

6. Bill of quantities signed and stamped by a QS

7. Developer’s KRA PIN

8. Signed contract between you and the contractor

9. Supervision commitment letters by consultants

That’s it! With these in hand, you’re good to go.

So, as you dream, plan and build, remember “NCA is not your enemy. NCA is your friend.”

Protect your project. Safeguard your money. Build safe.

Jenga Smart!

Compiled by: Milkah Achar