Built Environment Professionals Reject Architectural and Quantity Surveying Practitioners Bill
A coalition of built environment professional associations has rejected the Architectural and Quantity Surveying Practitioners Bill, 2026, in its current form, arguing that the proposed legislation could undermine professional autonomy and effective regulation of specialised professions.
The Interior Designers Association of Kenya (IDAK), Association of Construction Managers of Kenya (ACMK) and The Architects Alliance said they were not opposed to regulation but were demanding a regulatory framework that recognises the distinct roles, competencies and responsibilities of different built environment professionals.
The associations raised concern that the Bill seeks to regulate architects, quantity surveyors, interior designers, landscape architects, construction project managers and technicians through a single Board, despite the professions having different areas of knowledge, education, competencies and scopes of practice.
“Our concern is simple: one profession should not effectively regulate another profession,” the associations said, arguing that representation by a single member on a broad regulatory board does not amount to meaningful professional self-regulation.
They further warned that the Bill leaves critical matters including scopes of practice, professional fees, education standards, examinations, licensing and disciplinary processes to a regulatory structure they fear may not adequately reflect the specialist competencies of each profession.
According to the associations, the proposed framework could result in professional conflict, duplication and uncertainty, ultimately weakening public protection.
They also called for previous research and policy proposals on the regulation of built environment professions, including work associated with Professor Alfred Omenya and the Coalition of Built Environment Professionals, to be reviewed before Parliament proceeds with the legislation.
The professionals are now calling on the National Assembly to suspend consideration of the Bill in its current form and subject it to comprehensive stakeholder review.
They want Parliament to convene an inclusive national stakeholder process, define clear scopes of practice and professional responsibilities, and develop a comprehensive Built Environment Professions framework with strong profession-specific regulatory structures.
The associations have also called for the immediate resignation of the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works, Hon. Joseph K. Tanui, who is also the sponsor of the Bill, citing an alleged conflict of interest.
“This is not a fight between professions. It is about getting regulation right,” the associations said.
They urged lawmakers to pursue coordinated regulation, professional autonomy, clear accountability and public protection rather than creating a professional hierarchy.
The associations have formally demanded that the National Assembly reject the Bill in its current form, refer the proposed regulatory reforms for comprehensive stakeholder review, formally consider previous research and policy proposals, and initiate an inclusive process towards comprehensive legislation governing and coordinating Kenya’s built environment professions.
“Let us not legislate for yesterday’s construction industry. Let us legislate for the Kenya we are building tomorrow,” they said.