In a wave of discontent, construction and project managers are voicing strong objections against what they perceive as the government’s deliberate disregard for their profession. This unrest follows the recent unveiling of the new National Building Code by the National Construction Authority (NCA) and the State Department for Public Works. Criticism is mounting, particularly over a clause that seems to overlook the vital role of construction and project managers in the supervision of building works.
The contentious clause in the Code states:
- “The preparation of the design and supervision of the works in a building shall only be undertaken by a professional in the respective fields of specialization.”
- “A professional under sub-paragraph (1) includes a physical planner, architect, engineer, land surveyor or building surveyor, quantity surveyor, accredited site supervisor, and accredited skilled worker, duly registered under the relevant law.”
Noticeably absent from this list are construction and project managers, sparking outrage within the industry. Even before the Code’s launch, Nashon Okowa, former chairman of the Association of Construction Managers of Kenya (ACMK), along with others, had filed a legal challenge in the High Court against the NCA and the State Law Office regarding the regulations. While the court is set to issue directions on October 8, 2024, the Code’s implementation this week seems to have preempted the legal proceedings.
Critics of the NCA argue that the construction management profession, now taught in public universities, predates the NCA itself. They assert that there have been continuous attempts by construction industry regulators to undermine the profession. At stake, they warn, is the future of numerous students graduating each year with degrees in construction management, whose career prospects could be jeopardized by the exclusionary policies of the new Code.
