Lands Cabinet Secretary (CS) Zachary Njeru has published new rules that will see some Kenyans blocked from multimillion jobs due to academic qualifications.
The new amendments published on Tuesday to the National Construction Authority Act of 2011 provide guidelines for the registration of construction technicians and their engagement in construction works.
“The main objective of the National Construction Authority [Amendment) Regulations 2023 is to reflect current best practices, qualifications, and standards in view of the developments in the construction industry,” read the notice in part.
Among the professions that will see diploma and certificate graduates pocket less pay than their degree counterparts include Building and Construction, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
Building and Construction works
The regulations stipulate that only building contractors with Bachelor’s degrees will be allowed to undertake projects valued at Sh750 million and above.
Diploma and certificate holders will, on the other hand, undertake projects valued at between Sh100 million to Sh500 million and Sh50 million, respectively. Those with trade certificates will qualify for projects worth Sh20 million and below.
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Civil Engineering Works
Engineers with a bachelor’s degree will undertake projects valued between Sh1.2 to Sh2.5 billion while their diploma, certificate, and trade certificate counterparts will not undertake projects exceeding Sh750 million, Sh50 million, and Sh20 million, respectively.
Electrical Engineering Services
Engineers with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical engineering will be allowed to undertake projects above Sh75 million, while their diploma counterparts have been blocked from projects exceeding Sh40 million.
Mechanical Engineering
Those with Bachelor’s degrees will undertake projects above Ksh75 million. Diploma holders will, on the other hand, undertake projects valued between Ksh10 million to Ksh40 million.
Certificate and trade test experts are disqualified from undertaking such projects, which include plumbing, installation of air conditioners, and installation of lists.
“Specifically, the implementation of the National Construction Authority (Amendment! Regulations 2023 will place more emphasis on experience-based evidence for registration whilst the previous criteria were document-based. This will enable the Authority to validate the technical competencies of applicants.” Â Adds the notice.
Affected Kenyans have been urged to provide their opinion on the proposals in the next 14 days.
