Quack contractors put on notice

By James Ratemo

Proposals by Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) might see quacks locked out of construction business.

According to the proposals, contractors, engineers, quantity surveyors and planners will display their names on plaques to be permanently fixed on buildings they supervise.

Speaking during the World Town Planning Day on Monday, AAK Chairman, Stephen Oundo said building contractors would also have to seek approval at every stage of construction to ensure quality workmanship.

All professionals involved in building will be required to have their details displayed at the construction site so the public can countercheck their qualifications.

Occupation certificate

In an interview with The Standard, Mr Oundo said most poorly designed and built structures, is the work of quacks, who never want their names publicly displayed at construction sites or completed buildings.

"Site symbols and plaques will ensure perpetrators of shoddy jobs are known and action taken against them. The plaque must go hand in hand with an occupation certificate once the building has been approved as safe for occupation," said Oundo.

Adopted by Parliament

Although current policy on public building requires erection of site symbols with names of professionals involved, there is poor implementation of the policy.

Names of qualified town planners, engineers, quantity surveyors and landscape architects can be found at AAK’s website (www.aak.or.ke).

If adopted, the measures would help name and shame contractors who do shoddy work.

Worse still, local governments lack qualified planners. Out of 175 authorities, only Nairobi City Council has a full-fledged planning department. Other 17 authorities, including Kisumu and Mombasa have one qualified planner each, but the rest have none.

This scenario has led to mushrooming of poorly planned residential and business premises.

But this is bound to change if the Planning and Building Bill, which is currently at the Prime Minister’s office, is tabled and adopted by Parliament.

 

 

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