Parliament Moves to Separate Architects and Quantity Surveyors in New Regulatory Push

The National Assembly has called for public participation on a new legislative bill that seeks to restructure how building professionals are regulated.

The Clerk of the National Assembly, S. Njoroge, published an official notice seeking views on the Quantity Surveyors Bill, 2026.

Sponsored by the Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works, the draft law targets a distinct break from architects.

Quantity surveyors and architects are currently regulated under a unified statutory board, the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors (BORAQS).

Established under Chapter 525 of the laws of Kenya, BORAQS serves as the joint regulatory body for both fields.

The new Act aims to establish an independent regulatory council to manage discipline and enhance accountability for quantity surveyors.

While the exact name of the future statutory board remains unconfirmed ahead of the split, the council is intended to align local practices with international standards.

Currently, the Institute of Quantity Surveyors of Kenya (IQSK) operates as the independent professional membership association for cost consultants.

For years, the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) has also been a prominent professional body accommodating quantity surveyors within its chapters.

However, the alignment has grown increasingly complex with the emergence of distinct advocacy priorities for each discipline.

Adding to the shifting landscape is the recent rise of The Architects Alliance (TAA) in Kenya.

Led by President Sylvia Kasanga, TAA has been pushing separate statutory reforms via the proposed Architects Bill, 2026.

The architects argue that their practice requires a dedicated framework focused heavily on design safety and accountability.

Interested stakeholders have until June 17, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. to hand-deliver or email their written memoranda on the bill.

All submissions must be directed to the Clerk's office at the Main Parliament Building in Nairobi.

The public notification also detailed concurrent legislative items undergoing review within the same parliamentary schedule.

These include the Microfinance Bill and the Medical Practitioners and Dentists (Amendment) Bill.

The financial bill is before the Finance committee, while the medical amendments sit with the Health committee.

The joint regulatory setup has governed both career fields for decades since the enactment of the original statute.

However, ongoing professional friction and differing operational needs have fueled the demand for individual regulatory independence, and we will be following the developments keenly.

Here is the invitation: