Nairobi — All buildings in Kenya must be inspected immediately and those found to be unsafe pulled down.

The Architectural Association of Kenya said this on Friday when it called on the government to urgently set up a Building Audit Committee to examine all buildings in the country -- whether occupied or under construction.

Chairman Steven Oundo said the committee would be expected to make only three recommendations on existing buildings: those to be pulled down, those requiring remedial work and approval of those that are fit for occupation.

The AAK call comes a week after a building under construction collapsed in Kiambu, killing 16 people.

The association said none of the people identified as the building's designer and engineers were its members.

It also urged the Kenya Bureau of Standards to bring manufacturers of sub-standard building materials to book.

The architects said a Contractors Registration Board must be set up to regulate players in the public and private sectors.

Contractors have been criticised for not consulting professionals when putting up buildings.

"Contractors must have a qualified engineer at all times," said Mr Oundo.

He said quacks in the sector outnumbered qualified professionals by more than three times, describing the situation as a disaster waiting to happen.

Mr Oundo said his association had 1,500 registered members while an estimated 5,000 quacks were masquerading as engineers, planners and architects.

In Nairobi alone, he said, 65 per cent of the buildings have not been approved by the council, which is ill-equipped to handle unplanned developments.

The association said the number of buildings collapsing could increase with the onset of the El Nino rains.

Meanwhile, planners studying at the University of Nairobi may be absorbed by the Local Government ministry.

Local Government minister Musalia Mudavadi said the ministry will also post more engineers and architects to help plan and design buildings in towns.

"We are working with the University of Nairobi and will employ these planners in local authorities," the minister said.

He said the government could not be blamed for incidents like the Kiambu one, saying some contractors were greedy.

"Contractors want to put up buildings without engineers and architects," he said.