Nakuru: Building approvals in Nakuru have gone online, cutting the waiting time from at least three months to a maximum of 45 days. The county has launched the Electronic Development Applications Management System (E-DAMS), which will be used to guide development and hasten application processes. It will now take 25 days to approve domestic houses or single-dwelling houses, while major commercial projects will take a maximum of 45 days. Approvals used to take at least three months before then.
According to Kenya News Agency, Nakuru is one of the fastest urbanizing counties in Kenya, and the implementation of E-DAMS is aimed at controlling growth to prevent the emergence of slums in the next 20 to 30 years. Ms. Stella Mwaura, the Chief Officer for Lands and Physical Planning Docket, expressed her satisfaction with the online platform, which took about six months to develop. She highlighted the benefits of the system, including reducing corruption and improving efficiency, despite concerns about job losses for untrained individuals.
The platform allows for the online submission of building proposals by architects and planners for evaluation and approval. It automates the workflow to enable concurrent routing of applications to various technical evaluators. Prior to E-DAMS, the process was paper-heavy, inefficient, and required multiple visits to county offices. The new system offers a significant change by automating permits, approvals, and licenses related to land and property development, with portals for developers to track their submissions.
Ms. Mwaura noted that E-DAMS provides essential data for informed decisions on zoning, infrastructure development, and resource allocation. This contributes to organized and sustainable land development and improved living standards in Nakuru. The online system is a milestone for the county, ensuring fast, cost-effective, and efficient services in the building and construction industry.
The system will aid in issuing development permits, profiling ongoing developments for inspection, supporting planning enforcement, and collecting and archiving inspection data. The electronic permit system is expected to fast-track development approval processes, promoting efficiency and reducing corruption. Developers are now required to submit e-permit registrations before starting projects, and the interactive system provides access to key county services regardless of location.
Ms. Mwaura assured the public that the system incorporates stakeholder views and encouraged investors to utilize it for fast-tracking investment processes. She emphasized the necessity of digitizing services to provide easy access to the public, aligning with global practices by eliminating paperwork and physical interactions. The system replaces subjective processes at County Offices, ensuring only qualified professionals interact with it.
The E-DAMS is a web-based application automating development applications, including planning proposals, architectural designs, and inspection processes. Nakuru joins Kajiado, Nairobi, Kiambu, and Kisumu in launching e-DAMS. The system features enhancements that address loopholes in previously launched systems in other counties.