Architects on the warpath against quacks

A list of qualified architects has been put out to save the public from hiring quacks to design buildings.

The Architectural Association of Kenya on Tuesday warned wananchi (citizens) against transacting business with quacks who, according to them, have flooded the market.

In a paid-up advert, the AAK on Monday published a list of registered firms allowed to transact architectural business. The list came out three days after a building collapsed in Kiambu, killing three people.

The association’s registrar, Mr Alexander Mutai, said government agencies and ministries had asked them for the list of current members.

Private sector

They also received similar requests from the private sector, he said, and warned the public against engaging unregistered people.

At the same time, AAK chairman Steven Oundo said quacks outnumbered qualified professionals by more than three times, a situation he described as a disaster waiting to happen.

For buildings under construction, says Mr Oundo, the absence of a site sign board should immediately send a warning signal even to passers-by.

Project sign boards indicate the developer’s name and address, local authority approval number, architect’s details, engineers, quantity surveyors and other professionals, Nema approval number and a pictorial impression of the proposed building.