This archive report was first published on 24 July 2021.
Published on July 24, 2021, the evils of Kenya's construction and real estate industry have been well-documented and exposed to the public. Despite this, key stakeholders have remained eerily silent, leaving many to wonder if they are complicit in these malicious activities.
Nashon Okowa, chair of the Association of Construction Managers of Kenya, has spoken out against the industry's silence, urging stakeholders to take a bold stance against real estate con games. He argues that the biggest losers in these scams are not the public, but rather the embedded stakeholders themselves, including project managers, architects, engineers, planners, valuers, surveyors, and contractors.
Okowa believes that it is time for the industry to take responsibility for its actions and speak out against fraud and rogue contractors. He suggests that professional associations, such as those representing engineers, project managers, architects, surveyors, planners, and contractors, must confront the issue head-on and work towards eliminating the constant negativity surrounding the industry.
Okowa's call to action is clear: the industry must begin to unshackle itself and speak boldly against evils in the industry. This includes reprimanding members who engage in phony dealings or collapsing buildings, withdrawing their licenses, or suspending them as a deterrent. Furthermore, stakeholders can refuse to work with companies known for playing con games with the public, and jointly advise consultants and contractors to avoid such companies.
As Okowa so eloquently puts it, 'We must begin to unshackle ourselves and speak boldly against evils in this industry.' It is time for the built environment stakeholders to take a stand and work towards making the industry better.
