The Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) has expressed concern for the building sector over the uncertainty Covid-19 continues to create.
In its bi-annual Status of the Built Environment Report released on 1st February 2022 covering the second half of 2021, the Association noted that although there were some positive elements in the year, such as the report by the State Department of Housing and Urban Development that revealed the cost of construction in the country within the last four years had dropped by nearly 300 percent, and various government projects currently running, sectors such as commercial office space had continued to register declining performance. This trend was expected to continue given the apparent oversupply of office space and the new preference of working from home.
In the industrial properties subsector, the Association noted that the slow rental growth indicates that the industrial market is also feeling the effect of the weak economy, “although accompanied by less pain than the office and retail property markets.”
On matters environment, the AAK noted that in recognition of the growing concerns about climate change, it recently launched a green building certification tool that assesses construction projects to establish their environmental performance.
The Chief Guest at the launch of the report, PS Charles Hinga of the State Department of Housing and Urban Development commended AAK for its continued commitment to improving the environment.
“I am particularly impressed by AAK’s continued endeavor to improve the sector demonstrable by your various activities aimed at improving urban governance in Kenya including the AAK Annual Convention,” he said.
