Professionals dismiss AAK’s list of ‘qualified architects’

By Karanja Njoroge and Felix Njenga

Two professional organisations have disagreed over regulation of the building sector.

Last week, the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) published names of "qualified architects".

The AAK list was published after concern over the quality of buildings, with AAK saying it was aimed at saving the public from hiring quacks to design buildings.

But the Institute of Quantity Surveyors of Kenya yesterday placed an advert in the media saying the body charged with registration of architects and surveyors was the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors and not AAK.

The institute dismissed the list issued by AAK, saying under existing legislation professional organisations, including AAK were voluntary.

Meanwhile, police in Kiambu have arrested two people in connection with the collapsed building, which killed three people.

The two, Francis Njoroge and his wife Felista Nyokabi were the owners of the six-storey building, which collapsed last week in Kiambu town.

Local CID boss Abdi Ahmed said the couple that disappeared after the incident surrendered at Kiambu Police Station on Monday morning.