The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works today met to consider The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2022.

The Bill seeks to make changes to various Statutes, in keeping with the practice of consolidating minor amendments that do not meet the merit of publication as separate Bills.

The Committee Chaired by Emurrua Dikir Member of Parliament, the Hon. Johana Ngeno considered amendments to The Architects and Quantity Surveyors Act (Cap. 525), and the Housing Act (Cap. 117). 

The proposed Amendment to the Housing Act (Cap. 117) 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 Kenya's Housing Policy, cognizant of the Kenyan context.

Additionally, proposed amendments to Artchitects and Quantity Surveyors Act, seek to harmonize the provisions of Cap 525 with the functions of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), so as to effectively deter the practice of masquerading in the sector.

In today's meeting, the Committee observed that the proposed amendment to Architects and Quantity Surveyors Act (Cap. 525) is in order as it would harmonize the provisions of the Act with functions of the DPP under Article 157(2) of the Constitution.

The committee further proposed that while the suggested amendment to the Housing Act (Cap. 117) is well meant, it would need to be accompanied by a detailed provision in the body of the Act for better implementation.