Currently submitting and obtaining approvals for buildings from the national and country governments does not require electrical and mechanical drawings from registered professional engineers. This loophole has, as anyone can imagine led to the inferior implementation of electrical and mechanical services. This is because many developers don’t end up engaging the services of professional electrical and mechanical engineers once the approval process is over. This loophole and mistake have led to electrical faults and fires, blocked plumbing and drainage systems, etc. which may have led to the loss of property and life in most cases. The costs to the public and individuals users of these buildings may be incalculable.

Of course, safety and quality conscious developers will always engage services of registered electrical and mechanical(M&E) professional engineers whether it’s a requirement by the authorities or not. But there are those who take short cuts and refuse to engage services of registered electrical and mechanical professional engineers. Some do this in the name of cutting costs, albeit in the short term.

In most countries and states, it’s mandatory that signed and stamped electrical and mechanical drawings be part of the building approval process.  What happened to Kenya? Should we, as a county continue with this practice of legally ignoring services of electrical and mechanical professional engineers, at our own risk? Do we need an amendment to these acts or guidelines so that no building construction can go ahead to implementation without signed and stamped electrical and mechanical drawings, where such services are needed?

We are exposing the public to danger. We’re shortchanging the country by this continued legal neglect of the electrical and mechanical professional engineers in the building approval process.

This is the current state of things:

Documents that would be required when submitting a new application include:

• Architectural Drawings from an architect/ firm registered by BORAQs (Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors)
• Structural drawings from a structural engineer/ firm registered by ERB (Engineers Regulatory Board)
• Copy of Land ownership document
• Land rates clearance certificate
• Land search document (not more than three months old)
• Survey map from Survey of Kenya
• Submission fee payment(This is determined by your design)

As a developing country, it is time we started engaging the services of licensed professionals in all sectors of the economy. It is for our own good.

Licensing is an indicator of dedication to integrity, hard work, and creativity, and the assurance that the individual engineer has passed at least a minimum screen of competence. Only a licensed engineer may prepare, sign and seal, and submit engineering plans and drawings to a public authority for approval, or seal engineering work for public and private clients.

There are many recorded cases of faulty engineering causing fire explosions, water disasters, etc. because the developer ignored to engage the services of a professional in the name cost saving!

Professional licensing is an important indicator of a baseline level of qualification, requiring rigorous education, examination, and experience, which sets a standard so the public knows which professionals they can trust. Without licensing, the public won’t know who to trust. Who is going to educate the lawmakers in the national and country governments on the difference between occupations and professionals? Who is going to show them the vital role licensing plays in protecting public safety? And why such services should be sought and engaged in all steps of the building process?