NGPU
January 15, 2025
Nakuru County Launches e-DAMS to Streamline Development Permits and Enhance Planning Efficiency
Written by Annette Njoroge
Nakuru County Government launched the electronic Development Application System (e-DAMS) to control development through fast-tracking construction permits during the 2023-2024 financial year.
Chief Officer for Lands and Physical Planning Ms Stella Mwaura held a consultative meeting with Departmental Planners to refine the system for its adaptability through critically interrogating and evaluating the system in order to identify gaps, challenges and areas of improvement on its functionality and ease of use.
The County Planners shared their experiences and feedback with their discussions centred on ensuring the system’s integration with existing County Planning frameworks.
Before the introduction of e-DAMS, stakeholders navigated through the paper-heavy process that was often characterized by inefficiencies and countless trips to county offices.
e-DAMS has offered a dramatic change in the approval turnover time. The system automates the process of applying for permits, approvals and licenses related to land and property development with portals where developers can fast-track their submissions.
Ms. Mwaura noted that the e-DAMS that the Edams provides data necessary for more informed decisions regarding zoning, infrastructure development, and resource allocation ultimately contributing to the creation of a more organized and sustainable Land Development and improved living standards for the citizens of Nakuru.
Emerging system enhancement included the introduction of a dedicated customer care number for client enquiries and the adoption of prompt texts to clients to update them on their project status.
Ms. Mwaura noted that the system will remove quacks who had previously infiltrated the manual approval process limiting the system to only qualified professionals to interact with the system.
The meeting follows a November consultation meeting led by the Departmental County Executive Member Hon. John Kihagi in November with consultants who act as intermediaries between the client and the county. The discussions aimed to address challenges in system interaction and promote continuous improvement.
These consultative meetings aimed at the adaptability of the system show the commitment of the County Government to digitizing its services for the ease of its citizens. Nakuru becomes the fifth County under the stewardship of H.E Governor Susan Kihika to automate its services after Kiambu, Kajiado, Makueni and Nairobi.
