Nairobi, Kenya | October 16, 2026 — A coalition of built environment professional bodies has called on the government to suspend further progress on the Architectural and Quantity Surveying Practitioners Bill, 2026, citing inadequate stakeholder consultation and the exclusion of key industry players from the drafting process.
The professionals, who addressed the media at Panafrica Hotel in Nairobi on Friday, October 16, said the proposed legislation had been developed and published without giving several professional associations a fair opportunity to review the draft and submit their views.
The coalition, comprising architects, engineers, construction managers, planners, surveyors, interior designers, lawyers, technologists and contractors, argued that the Bill could have far-reaching implications for the wider construction industry and should not proceed without meaningful public participation.
“We are not opposed to reform. We welcome a modern regulatory framework that raises standards, protects the public and strengthens our professions. What we cannot accept is legislation of this magnitude being shaped behind closed doors, by a select few, on behalf of the many,” said Muchiri Waititu of The Architects Alliance (TAA).
The coalition maintained that the government should halt the legislative process until all stakeholders in the built environment sector have been adequately consulted.
Professionals Accuse Government of Selective Consultation
The coalition accused the government of engaging selectively with stakeholders perceived to support the Bill while excluding other professional bodies representing thousands of practitioners.
According to Waititu, several associations were neither invited to participate in the drafting process nor given a fair opportunity to examine the proposed legislation before its publication.
The professionals also questioned the transparency of the consultation process, saying the criteria used to select participating stakeholders and records of their submissions had not been made public.
“This is not consultation. It is endorsement-seeking, and it falls short of the public participation that Articles 10 and 118 of the Constitution of Kenya require,” the professionals stated.
They warned that the alleged shortcomings in the consultation process could undermine the legitimacy of the proposed law among the professionals expected to implement and comply with its provisions.
Coalition Warns Bill Could Create Regulatory Conflicts Across Construction Sector
The coalition cautioned against regulating architecture and quantity surveying in isolation, arguing that the proposed law could affect other professions involved in planning, designing, costing, managing and delivering buildings and infrastructure.
It said excluding engineers, construction managers, interior designers, planners, surveyors, contractors and developers from the process risked creating overlapping mandates, regulatory gaps and conflicts between professional regulators.
The group further highlighted the public safety implications of legislation governing professionals authorised to design, cost and certify buildings, insisting that such matters required extensive scrutiny and input from all relevant stakeholders.
“Laws governing who may design, cost and certify buildings bear directly on building safety. They deserve the widest possible scrutiny, not the narrowest,” the professionals said.
The coalition argued that a coordinated regulatory framework would help prevent fragmented oversight while ensuring that the responsibilities of different professionals in the built environment sector were clearly defined.
Young Professionals Demand a Place in Bill Consultations
The coalition also raised concerns over what it described as the exclusion of young professionals from the consultation process, noting that graduates, interns, students and emerging practitioners would be among those most affected by the proposed law.
It said provisions relating to registration, licensing, internships, fees and entry into professional practice could have significant implications for young people seeking to build careers in the sector.
The group called for young professionals and students to be formally represented in future consultations through their associations, student chapters and university schools of the built environment.
It maintained that their participation was necessary to ensure the proposed regulatory framework addressed barriers to entering the professions, mentorship opportunities, registration costs and the challenges faced by practitioners at the beginning of their careers.
The coalition outlined five key demands, beginning with an immediate suspension of further progress on the Architectural and Quantity Surveying Practitioners Bill, 2026, pending inclusive stakeholder consultations.
It called on the government to convene a comprehensive forum bringing together professional associations, regulators, academic institutions, industry representatives and members of the public to review the proposed legislation.
The group also demanded that young professionals and students be formally included in the consultation process and any committee established to review or redraft the Bill.
Additionally, the coalition called for the publication of a clear consultation framework outlining the timelines for public engagement, the full draft Bill and a public record of submissions received from stakeholders.
Its fifth demand was the development of a harmonised regulatory framework that would prevent fragmented oversight and strengthen coordination among the various professions operating within the built environment sector.
The professionals said these measures would help ensure that the proposed legislation reflected the realities of the industry and protected the interests of practitioners and the public.
Professionals Reaffirm Willingness to Work With Government
Despite their objections to the proposed legislation, the professional bodies reaffirmed their willingness to work with the government to develop a regulatory framework that upholds professional standards, protects the public and supports growth in the built environment sector.
The coalition said its members were ready to contribute their expertise, time and experience to an inclusive and transparent process aimed at producing fair, effective and forward-looking legislation.
It added that laws developed through broad stakeholder consultations would command greater acceptance among practitioners and be easier to implement.
The joint media briefing was attended by representatives of The Architects Alliance (TAA), the Institute of Engineers of Kenya (IEK), the Association of Construction Managers of Kenya (ACMK), the Interior Designers Association of Kenya (IDAK), the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK), the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), the Town and County Planners Association of Kenya, the Institution of Engineering Technology of Kenya (IET-K) and the Kenya Federation of Master Builders (KFMB).