EMMA MILOYO wears many hats. Not only is she a practicing architect but is also an author and a mentor, helping women enter and cement their positions in the construction industry. As the first female President of the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK), she spearheaded several initiatives to improve the status of the built environment in Kenya. We ask her how she juggles all these and what plans she has for the future.
CKS: Please give us an introduction to yourself – where and when born, raised and schooled.
Emma: I am a practicing Architect and partner at Design Source with vast experience in the building industry in the East and Central Africa region. I was the first female President of the Architectural Association of Kenya was recognized as one of “Top 40 under 40 Women in Kenya” in 2011 and 2018 by the Nation Media Group’s Business Daily. I am also an Eisenhower Fellow (2015).
I was born and raised in Nairobi, I studied at Kenya High School before proceeding to Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) to study Architecture.
My lifelong ambition is to inspire young girls and help them break the glass ceiling that has limited their success, especially in male-dominated fields like architecture. I graduated from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) with first-class honours in architecture, the first woman to do so. I am passionate about the built environment and also very enthusiastic about preserving Kenya’s architectural heritage.
When did you develop an interest in the construction industry and specifically architecture?
I took art in high school and was encouraged by my art teacher to pursue architecture as I wanted to practice in a creative field.
Do you have siblings or other relatives who are in the industry who might have inspired you?
My mother was a maths teacher at Kenya Science Teachers College, one of the few women the maths faculty had. She encouraged me to look beyond gender stereotypes and pursue my dreams.
Take us though your journey as an architect – from your first job to the current position as a director at Design Source Limited.
I started my career as a graduate architect at SK Archplans where I worked on various buildings including Krep Centre and Timau Plaza, then proceeded to TMS, where I worked on Delta Centre in Upper Hill. In 2009 I joined Design Source where I have been since as director with my partner, Christopher Naicca.
What are some of the most exciting projects you have handled in your career? Tell us why so.
I think each project is unique and exciting in its own way…with its unique challenges and joys. Clients also drive the energy of a project and it has been exciting working with a myriad of clients, from individuals to corporates and institutions alike. I have worked on various hospitality projects like the Alba Hotel in Meru, office buildings like the Headquarters of the Jesuits of Africa and Madagascar, energy projects for Gulf Energy across the country and more recently the MEC High School amongst many others.
Some of the corporate social responsibilities (CSR) that Design Source has undertaken over the years include putting up a high school for Kibera Girls Soccer Academy, the construction of an ICT Centre in Eldama Ravine, a Maternity Facility for the Red Cross in Turkana among others. Those too have been quite fulfilling.
You served as President of the Architectural Association of Kenya. What was your experience at the helm of that association and what were you able to achieve?
As the first female president of the premier built environment association, it was quite a humbling experience. I had been chosen to lead by an association whose membership was 90 percent male. This was a testament to the fact that both men and women have a major role to play in breaking gender stereotypes. Leadership is always exciting, “never a dull moment” they say. One can take for granted the work it entails, amid running a practice and other commitments. It was a great experience, and I had a lot of support from both family and colleagues that helped me achieve all that I did. My term coincided with the 50th anniversary of the AAK and therefore it was a period of rebirth and rejuvenation. During my term, AAK certainly became more visible through media presence, both social and traditional, advocacy and CSR projects. Most notable were the bi-annual publication of The Status of the Built Environment, The Kenya We Want and the Je, Una Mjengo? public awareness clinics. One of my proudest achievements is also the fact that I inspired many other women to also join the leadership of not only AAK but also all the other Built Environment professional associations with many now boasting 50% female leadership. These associations are no doubt reaping the benefits of a balanced leadership.
You co-authored a book, Building in Kenya: Real Estate Developers Toolkit, with Robyn Emerson which was a major feat in itself. How did the idea of a book come up? How was the publication received by the industry?
Building in Kenya aims to be any developer’s one-stop informational resource, an invaluable guide through the real estate development process. It assists with identification and evaluation of risks involved in the different stages of a building project and development of strategies with checklist and worksheets for developers to minimise risks on their project.
With the publishing of this book, we became authors of the first and only book of its kind here. We’re honoured that it has been wholeheartedly embraced by the sector – private and government. As leaders in the sector, we are called upon to speak at relevant conferences and lead workshops on its content. We are seeing consistent sales of the book at major bookstores in Nairobi and Mombasa as well as on a major online book selling portal.
The book has been very successful and was recently listed as a top 10 bestseller among Kenyan authored books by Rafu Books, for which we are grateful. The uptake of the books has shown that indeed, there is a need in the market for this kind of information.
What do you think of Architecture in Kenya today in terms of professionalism, training, ethics, etc? What changes have you seen since you started practicing?
The profession is growing; that means our ratio of architects to citizens will improve which I hope will reflect in the quality of built environment. Training has changed drastically, with the ratio of lecturers to students being dramatically affected negatively. I do hope that institutions of higher learning can do better to ensure that students get the attention and instruction they need. Architecture training is supposed to be almost like apprenticeship and the trends in the Universities are worrying. You know the famous saying “Doctors bury their mistakes; architects have to live with them”.
What does Emma Miloyo do away from construction sites and CAD screens? How do you unwind? What are your hobbies?
I am an avid jogger and recently took up boxing. So I am just putting it out there! Don’t mess with me! I also love reading and I am at any one time reading two books.
What are your future plans? Do you intend to retire or venture into other activities?
Retire? No way! I am also an educationist and look forward to not only growing Design Source to new heights, but to also seeing the success of Kiota School, where I’m a co-founder, in moulding the next generation of leaders.
