Sylvia Kasanga, President of The Architects Alliance, speaks during The Lift forum in Nairobi, where she led calls for stronger professional self-regulation to enhance safety in the construction sector
By Peace Muthoka
NAIROBI, April 1, 2026 — The Architects Alliance has intensified calls for reforms in Kenya’s construction sector, with its President Sylvia Kasanga leading a renewed push for professional self-regulation to safeguard the public.
The call took centre stage during a forum that brought together key players in the built environment at the Crown Paints Showroom along Parklands Road.
Framed around the theme “Self-Regulation vs Public Oversight: What Best Protects the Public in Architecture?”, the discussion unfolded amid rising cases of building collapses that have exposed glaring gaps in regulation and enforcement.
Leading the conversation, Kasanga warned that the safety of Kenyans can no longer depend on weak systems. While architects are trained to prioritise safety, she noted that regulatory loopholes have allowed unsafe practices to thrive.
“Our concern has always been whether the public is secure under the current system, and the answer is no,” she said. “We must move towards professionally led systems that ensure accountability and protect lives.”
She pointed to the Architects Bill currently before Parliament as a crucial step toward strengthening oversight and sealing existing gaps. She added that the Alliance is working with other professional bodies to refine the proposed law and align it with industry realities.
Invited panelist Charles Kanjama stressed the need to modernise legal frameworks governing the sector. He noted that many existing laws predate the 2010 Constitution and have failed to keep pace with emerging challenges.
As a result, he said, enforcement remains weak, often leaving victims of building collapses without justice.
“Professionals are best placed to regulate themselves because of their training and experience. They can also help weed out quacks who continue to endanger lives,” Kanjama said, adding that closer collaboration is key to successful prosecutions.
Similarly, Shammah Kiteme highlighted challenges engineers face under state-controlled regulation. He cited delays in appointing members to the Engineers Board of Kenya, saying the lapse has locked out young engineers from registration and denied them opportunities since August 2025.
Kiteme said such setbacks show the risks of over-reliance on government-led oversight, even as the debate on the best regulatory model continues.
On his part, Mutinda Mutuku raised concern over the dominance of unqualified practitioners in the sector. He estimated that more than 80 percent of construction projects are handled by unregistered individuals, making accountability difficult when buildings collapse.
“People should not lose their lives in the process of construction. Yet, quacks continue to dominate the space, and they cannot be held accountable,” he said.
He added that ongoing legislative efforts aim to eliminate unlicensed practitioners while protecting both professionals and the public.
Even so, the forum revealed a shared concern across professions: the urgent need to strike a balance between self-regulation and government oversight.
Through The Lift platform, The Architects Alliance continues to shape conversations on Kenya’s urban future, with Kasanga at the forefront of efforts to build a safer and more accountable construction sector.
