The National Assembly Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works committee has today held a meeting to deliberate on among other issues the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2022, and Deliberations on Budget Policy Statement 2023.

The Committee Chaired by Emurrua Dikir MP, Hon. Johana Ngeno reviewed The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2022 which recommends  changes to the Architects and Quantity Surveyors Act (Cap. 525) and The Housing Act (Cap. 117). 

The amendment proposal to the Housing Act, seeks to provide clarity on the definition of "Affordable Housing", as well as "Affordable Housing Development Projects" based on the universal definition and in line with the Kenya. Housing Policy, cognizant of the Kenyan context.

The suggested Amendment to Artchitects and Quantity Surveyors Act, seeks to harmonize the provisions of Cap 525 with the functions of the DPP, to effectively deter the practice of masquerading in the sector.

The Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors (BORAQS), in its submissions have requested that the penalties to masqueraders be enhanced (although that was not the main subject matter of the proposed amendment.)

(BORAQS) says this will effectively deter the practice of masquerading in the sector. The current Act is old as it was enacted in 1934 and therefore provides a very low penalty of a fine of only Ksh5, 000 in case a person masquerades as a professional (including foreigners). 

The committee will reconvene on Tuesday next week to adopt a final position on the amendment proposals.

During the Meeting the Committee also considered the Budget Policy Statement in respect of State Departments under it's purview.