Building Regulations and Accessibility of Building Infrastructure by Physically Challenged Persons in Meru Town, Meru County, Kenya

Abstract

Though global governments have enacted various laws expressed through building codes, standards and local regulations, accessibility to both privately owned and public buildings infrastructure still is a major problem bedeviling physically challenged persons. Specifically this study investigated the effect of building regulations on accessibility of building infrastructure in Meru Town, Meru County, Kenya. The study is pivoted on one theory; Resistance Disability theory. Descriptive survey research design guided the study. The study's target population comprised of 158 members of the Association of Physically Disabled of Kenya (APDK)-Meru Branch, 13County Government Planning officers and 21Consultants (Architects, Contractors and Structural Engineers).A sample size of 128 participants was used and respondents selected using Stratified and Simple random sampling techniques. Three questionnaires were prepared and used for primary data collection from sampled respondents. Quantitative data was analyzed making use of descriptive statistics while qualitative data was reported in form of narratives guided by themes under study. The study established that the non-existence of building regulations on provision of grab rails in toilets and light doors in public housing, wide aisles in education facilities and provision of disabled car parks in recreation facilities all negatively affected accessibility to building infrastructure by physically challenged persons. Existence of building regulations on curb cuts in education facilities also affected building infrastructure accessibility. The study concluded that the non-existence of effective and sufficient building accessibility regulations adversely affected the accessibility of building infrastructure by physically challenged persons in Meru Town. The study recommends that the National Construction Authority (NCA) through its construction supervisory role, undertakes enforcement of Article 54 of the 2010 Constitution of Kenya and the Persons with Disability Act of 2003 to enhance physically challenged persons' accessibility of building infrastructure.