Public Works Minister Chris Obure
All contractors seeking to undertake any construction project in Kenya will have to be registered and licensed afresh by the recently inaugurated National Construction Authority.
Public Works Minister Chris Obure said the move will help get rid of errant contractors and malpractices that have led to collapsing buildings and delay of many important government projects.
“The National Construction Authority will thoroughly scrutinise all contractors to ensure only those with enough qualified technical staff are registered,” Obure said adding that most projects fail because the contractors do not have competent staff to supervise the projects.
The NCA, which will be a state corporation under the ministry of public works, is mandated to regulate and bring sanity in the construction industry by, among other things, registering and de-registering contractors after rigorous scrutiny.
One of the key item to be taken into consideration before a contractor is registered will be the capacity of the contractor in terms of professional qualification, number of staff and the financial stability particularly for those seeking to work in government projects.
“Under the NCA, for a firm to be registered at least one of the directors must be a technical person with at least a higher diploma so as to address the issue of poor workmanship,” says Gideon Mulyungi, the Works Secretary and chairman of the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors.
Currently there are more than 6,000 contractors in Kenya a number which is expected to reduce greatly thanks to the new development.
