KENYA COUNTRY REPORT TO THE 19TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
COMMONWEALTH ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS, COLOMBO, SRI LANKA, 1617 FEBRUARY 2010.
AAK ANNUAL CONVENTION
We held a very successful Annual Convention at the Sarova Whitesands in Mombasa on
26th to 29th August 2009 which was officially opened by Hon. Alfred Khangati
representing the Rt. Hon.Eng. Raila Odinga, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya. We
were also privileged to have other distinguished guests including the Hon. Najib Balala,
Minister for Tourism, Hon. Njeru Githae, Minister for Nairobi Metropolitan Development
and Hon. Elizabeth Ongoro, Assistant Minister for Nairobi Metropolitan Development. Also
present was Tirop Kosgey, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Housing, Arch. Philip Sika,
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan Development and Dr. Julius Muia,
Secretary NESC, among others.
I wish to thank the Convenor Plan Irene Keino and members of the Public Relations and
Functions Committee and members of staff of AAK for working so hard to make the event a
success. I would also like to thank all the speakers, session chairs and rapporteurs for their
valuable contribution to this event. Most of all I would like to thank all the honorable
members of AAK who took time off their busy schedules to attend the convention.
ISOCARP CONGRESS 2009/2010
Our Association has in the recent past been actively engaging with the International Society
of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) to which our Town Planners Chapter is affiliated
to. As you may be aware, The Association managed to successfully bid to host the ISOCARP
2010 Congress to be held in Nairobi 19th-23rd September 2010 Nairobi.
In this regard, we attended the ISOCARP 2009 Congress in Porto Portugal (17th to 23rd
October 2009) where the Association received the instruments of power for hosting the
event.
This congress was attended by three Cabinet Ministers from Kenya– Hon. James Orengo,
Minister for Lands, Hon. Soita Shitanda, Minister for Housing and Hon. Njeru Githae,
Minister for Nairobi Metropolitan Development among over 30 Kenyan professionals. We
are currently seeking budgetary support from government to host this great event, the first
of its kind to be held in sub- Sahara Africa since the formation of ISOCARP in 1965.
PUBLIC PROCUREMENT
We have continued to actively engage with the relevant authorities on matters related to
procurement of professional services in our industry. A stakeholders forum was held on
31st July, 2009 where it was resolved that a dedicated session for the built and natural
environment will be conducted to address issues specific to the profession. This meeting
was held on 16-17 December 2009 in Naivasha where the concerns of professionals in the
industry were discussed. Further engagement with the Public Procurement Oversight
Authority will follow to address the matter.
CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Association has commenced the compilation and tallying of Continuous Professional
Development Points earned by members who attended various events in the course of the
year. We will share this list with the relevant Registration Boards and all members as soon
as it is done. A tentative list has already been sent out to members.
COLLAPSING BUILDINGS
The issue of collapsing buildings continues to be a major challenge and cause of concern in
the public domain. There have been a number of incidences the latest being the collapse of
two buildings in Kiambu in two separate incidences on October 19 2009and January 10
2010 claiming more than thirty lives. We have continued to engage with the relevant
stakeholders and especially the Government to streamline enforcement of building
regulations.
The erection of site sign boards, streamlining technical approval process and strengthening
of local authorities capacities have continued to be the major theme of our engagement
with the Government.
I wish to thank all members who have been actively involved in addressing this matter,
including the Convenor of the Local Authorities /NEMA Liaison Committee, Arch. Benson
Mwangi
SINGLE BUSINESS PERMITS
We have remained steadfast in advancing our position regarding the imposition of Single
Business Permits by Local Authorities on our Members who are regulated by Acts of
Parliament. Following a meeting between the Association and the Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister for Local Government on 9th February 2010, a directive has now been issued
to local authorities in Kenya to stop levying single business permits to professionals
regulated by legislation. This is an important development in efforts to streamline the
industry in Kenya.
REVISED BUILDING CODE
The revision of the Building Code has been ongoing for several months and is nearing
completion. A Planning and Building (Draft) Bill, 2009 has been published. New Planning
and Building Regulations, 2009 have also been published. A report on the Review and
Harmonisation of Planning and Building Laws and Regulations was presented to the Rt.
Hon. Prime Minister on 7th October 2009.
We are happy about the progress made so far and I wish to thank members who have very
competently represented the Association in this process. The Association was represented
by Arch. Waweru Gathecha, Arch. Geoffrey Gichuki, Dr.. Mary Kimani and Plan. Mairura
Omwenga and myself.
AAK SECRETARIAT
We have continued with efforts to modernize the AAK Secretariat to make it more efficient
and able to deliver better and more value added services to the members of the
Association:• AAK Website: The new AAK website is ready and can now be accessed at www.aak.or.ke.
We will continue to post updates, news and events on the website;
• Refurbishment: work will soon commence to refurbish the AAK Secretariat Offices at the
Professional Centre;
• Membership Database: We are developing a new membership database. Members will
soon be able to check their membership status online.
AAK ANNUAL DINNER
The Association held a colourful gala dinner on 9th December 2009 at the Sarova Panafric
Hotel in Nairobi. The Chief Guests were Hon. Chris Obure, Minister for Public Works, Mr.
Mugo Kibati, Director General, Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat as well as other dignitaries
and professionals from both the public and private sectors.
EAC COMMON MARKET PROTOCOL:
As you may be aware, the negotiations for the East African Common Market Protocol have
been ongoing and the Protocol will be signed by the Heads of State of the EAC Member
States shortly.
A meeting convened by E.A.I.A. EAC Professional Services Task force was held in Kampala
on 24 Sept. 2009 – AAK was represented by Arch Steven Oundo, Arch Mohammed
Munyanya and Arch Waweru Gathecha. The meeting, attended by
Architects (and 2no. Guest Quantity Surveyors) had representation from all EAC countries
except Burundi. Country Offers and Country Requests were harmonized in a document to
be submitted to the EAC Secretariat.
APPOINTMENTS
 BORAQS: The Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors
(BORAQS) was recently reconstituted. Arch. Steven Oundo, Arch. Mohammed Munyanya,
Arch. Erastus Abonyo and QS Anna Muchungu have been appointed by the Minister for
Public Works to serve on the Board.
 Arch. Steven Oundo was appointed by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of
Higher Education Science and Technology to the Interim Technical, Industrial,
Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (TIVET) Steering Committee
 QS Alfred Aluvaala and QS Elizabeth Ndindi were nominated to represent
AAK at the Ministerial Tender Committee, Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan Development;
 CAA Validation Panel: The following were nominated to the CAA Validation Panel:
 Arch. Juma Oino, Arch. Kigara Kamweru, Dr. Susan Kibue, Arch. Waweru Gathecha,
We are continuing in dialogue with Government to secure further representation of the
Association in key institutions.
PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
The Association participated in a number of international events including:
 The UIA Council held in Sydney, Australia, 17-18 January 2010 where Arch.
Mohammed Munyanya and Arch. Gideon Mulyungi represented AAK
 The International Builders Show – 19th – 22nd January 2010 in Las Vegas where
Arch. Steven Oundo and QS Haron Nyakundi represented the Association
AUA Council meeting in Livingstone, Zambia on 3rd December 2009. Arch. Steven Oundo
represented AAK.
ARCH. STEVEN OUNDO
CHAIRMAN, ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATION OF KENYA