National construction regulator set to change the way of doing business

Just a year since it commenced operations, the National Construction Authority (NCA) has made its mark and has big plans for the industry. The regulator’s future performance is assured on account of the goodwill it is already enjoying.

In line, come 2014 and beyond, are some ambitious NCA projects that include the establishment of a national construction academy. The other includes opening a one-stop shop policy centre that will deal with any construction issue from one office.

Yet another initiative is to ensure that contractors have, through public-private partnerships, the requisite equipment to enable them deliver on contracts awarded, says NCA’s Executive Director /CEO Daniel O. Manduku who adds that the widespread acceptance by the building and construction industry provides a sound platform for future policy initiatives and activities. “The public should judge if we are on track but we know we have done a lot within a short time with little resources,” he asserts.

He points out that, for example, compliance with the National Construction Authority Act, Number 41 of 2011 for contractors to be registered is almost 100 per cent.

“Registration of the 18,804 contractors so far,” he revealed, “took a short period – less than one year – and this is unlike what has happened in other countries.”

All contractors must be registered with the Authority meaning that shady contractors and quacks will be locked out of the industry. It is an offence to carry out any construction work without first having been registered with the Authority.

According to Mr. Manduku, the industry regulator will gazette a hard copy of the contractor register and keep an online version, too.

NCA has three mandates: To regulate the building and construction industry; advise government and contractors and; build the capacity of contractors.

The definition of construction is also wide and covers anything from buildings, roads, dams and telecommunication apparatus amongst others.

The NCA’s functions are to generally regulate the industry (including maintaining a register of contractors), promote the construction industry within the country, assist in the exportation of construction to other countries, ensure that quality is maintained, accredit training institutions and create a construction code.

Mr. Manduku, an architect by profession, says NCA has performed well in sensitizing contractors on their roles and the qualifications they must meet to be registered.

The next training session starts in January 2014. “The trainings are mandatory,”

explained Mr. Manduku. “There will be no renewal of licences for contractors unless they have attended the training.”

Mr. Manduku sees NCA playing a key role in the East African region where its standing “needs no gainsaying. The country’s strategic location and size of the economy makes it a key player in the region and we look forward to NCA playing a similar role. We are setting the example to neighbouring countries on how to establish national construction regulators.

“We want NCA to be the benchmark for standards and quality. We will therefore invite building and construction stakeholders to our academy. Some of our professionals are already working in other countries in the region,” said the NCA chief.

He revealed that an East African co-operation committee on construction has been mooted. “So, if you are registered as a contractor in Kenya, you can work anywhere in the region. We expect this can be done by June 2014.”

That will enable the region to share best practices.

Back home, NCA intends to open offices in all 47 counties before December 2014. It will establish a representative standing committee to deal with issues of approvals, quality assurance and standards in construction.

According to Mr. Manduku, within the next two years, NCA will be the single reference point on matters construction. He expects that in five to seven years, NCA will have helped build the capacity of local contractors to compete internationally.