Photo Caption: Senator Sylvia Kasanga, President of the Architects Alliance of Kenya, during stakeholder consultations on the Architectural and Quantity Surveying Practitioners Bill, 2026.
By Gladys Karuga
Stakeholders have proposed amendments to the Architectural and Quantity Surveying Practitioners Bill, 2026, with professional associations calling for broader representation, independent regulation of different disciplines and stronger accountability across Kenya’s construction industry.
The proposals emerged during the second day of stakeholder engagements by the National Assembly Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works Committee on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Argyle Hotel along Mombasa Road.
The Bill seeks to repeal and replace the Architects and Quantity Surveyors Act (Cap. 525), which dates back to 1954, with a modern legal framework for regulating professionals in the built environment, including architects, quantity surveyors, landscape architects, interior designers, construction project managers and technicians.
However, stakeholders expressed differing views on how the proposed law should be structured, with the Architects Alliance of Kenya rejecting the Bill in its current form while the Interior Design Society of Kenya (IDSK) and the Association of Designers of Kenya (ADKE) supported it subject to amendments.
President of the Architects Alliance of Kenya, Senator Sylvia Kasanga, said the proposed framework did not adequately recognise the distinct responsibilities of different professions, particularly the architect’s role in safeguarding public safety.
“We maintain that the architect has the duty of care for public safety, and therefore requires their own separate regulation,” Kasanga said.
She argued that architects, quantity surveyors and other built environment professionals have different technical responsibilities and should not be regulated under a single professional board.
Kasanga questioned the continued use of a regulatory arrangement established during the colonial era, arguing that Kenya needed to modernise its laws in line with international practices and the changing demands of the construction industry.
She said the existing framework had its origins in the 1930s, when the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors was established, and maintained that the circumstances that informed the arrangement had since changed.
The alliance proposed that Parliament consider replacing the Bill with a Built Environment Council Bill, under which individual professions would operate under their own dedicated legislation while remaining represented in an overarching council responsible for coordination across the sector.
According to Kasanga, the proposed arrangement would allow professionals to collaborate while ensuring that technical, registration and disciplinary matters were handled by regulators with the appropriate expertise.
She said the alliance would submit a fresh memorandum outlining its proposed changes but maintained that it did not support the Bill in its current form.
The Interior Design Society of Kenya, meanwhile, welcomed the proposed legislation, saying it would address longstanding gaps in the regulation of interior design and protect the public from unqualified practitioners.
IDSK President Cecilia Mbati said the absence of a specific regulatory framework for interior designers had allowed people without the necessary qualifications to practise, raising concerns about professional standards and public safety.
The society submitted clause-by-clause amendments following a review of the Bill and consultations with its members through the Kenya Interior Design Community Platform and the Interior Design Summit 2026.
Among its proposals is renaming the legislation to the Built Environment Practitioners Bill to recognise the different professions covered by the proposed law, including interior designers, landscape architects and construction project managers.
IDSK also called for stronger representation of interior designers on the proposed regulatory board, arguing that a single representative would not adequately address the profession’s academic, technical and disciplinary needs.
The society further proposed transitional provisions allowing practising interior designers with more than five years of continuous experience, certified by the relevant professional body, to qualify for registration under the new framework.
It also sought clarification of Clause 46 on the right to submit professional documents, recommending explicit recognition of documents prepared and stamped by registered interior designers, including space-planning, material-specification and fit-out drawings.
Mbati said the amendments were intended to ensure that interior designers were properly recognised without undermining their ability to practise independently.She added that the proposed law should help eliminate unqualified practitioners while protecting clients from unfinished projects and disputes arising from inadequate professional standards.
The Association of Designers of Kenya also supported the Bill but called for amendments to make the regulatory framework more inclusive of other professionals involved in construction.
Susan Elisha, founder of Buy Africa Build Africa and a representative of ADKE, said interior designers played an important role in space planning, safety, accessibility and functionality, beyond selecting colours and finishes.
She also called for the recognition, training and assessment of technicians and artisans, saying they perform much of the practical work on construction sites but often lack access to formal training.
Elisha cited the building collapse during demolition along Nairobi’s Moi Avenue on Friday, October 16, as an incident that raised questions about site supervision, professional oversight and the competence of those carrying out construction work.
She cautioned against assigning blame before investigations were completed.She said construction safety required cooperation among architects, contractors, interior designers, technicians and other professionals, rather than placing responsibility on one group alone.
ADKE and Buy Africa Build Africa proposed a broader regulatory framework that would recognise the contribution of artisans and provide opportunities for practical skills training, mentorship and professional development.
Elisha said the associations were also promoting industry dialogue and sustainable construction practices through training initiatives and professional engagements, including the planned Build Africa conference and expo at Green Living Hub, Morgan Peak, on December 10, 2026.
Beyond the question of professional representation, the Technical University of Kenya (TU-K) welcomed the modernisation of professional regulation but called for clearer provisions governing the relationship between professional registration, academic qualifications and education quality assurance.
The Bill proposes expanded regulation of built environment disciplines, formal registration pathways for middle-level practitioners, enhanced site inspection powers and specialised mechanisms for handling professional misconduct.
It also seeks to address emerging construction technologies, including artificial intelligence, green building technologies, climate change mitigation and digital transformation.
Other proposed provisions cover foreign practitioners and firms operating in Kenya, including local incorporation requirements and skills transfer.
Committee Vice Chair Hon. Rindikiri Mugambi said the review presented an opportunity to address longstanding legislative gaps and align regulation with present-day professional and industry needs.
The engagement brought together more than 25 organisations drawn from professional associations, academic institutions and regulatory bodies, reflecting the broad range of interests involved in the proposed regulation of Kenya’s built environment sector.