The National Construction Authority (NCA) has officially launched the inaugural Construction Excellence Awards as part of the Annual Contractors Conference initiative, aimed at recognising, rewarding, and institutionalising excellence, safety, and innovation within Kenya’s construction industry.
The event attracted contractors, regulators, developers and key stakeholders from across the 47 counties, all gathered to discuss transformative reforms in the sector under the National Building Code 2024.
Presiding over the launch, Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, Alice Wahome, praised NCA’s efforts in aligning policy and performance through this awards platform.
“This pairing of regulation and recognition is the alignment; we need to deliver our national development agenda. Those who build right, build the future,” emphasised Wahome.
The CS noted that since the National Building Code 2024 came into effect in March, incidents of buildings collapsing have significantly reduced.
She attributed this progress to enhanced enforcement, inter-agency collaboration, digitised approvals, and mandatory compliance frameworks for developers and contractors.
“Public safety is a public service priority. Every safe building spares families from tragedy and businesses from disruption,” stated Wahome, highlighting the code’s life-saving impact.
Additionally, she announced the accreditation of over 25,000 skilled construction workers and site supervisors, a direct outcome of increased engagement, training, and awareness driven by the government and NCA.
This effort, according to the CS, supports the Affordable Housing Programme, which currently has over 175,000 units under construction and a pipeline of an additional 450,000 units.
The newly launched Construction Excellence Awards, she noted, are not merely ceremonial but represent a strategic lever to embed the National Building Code into everyday practice across the sector.
Wahome added that contractors and professionals will be recognised for compliance, innovation, and high standards.
“The awards are a rallying point, a call for peer learning, capacity building, and investment in professionalism,” she reiterated, officially launching both the awards and the Contractors Conference.
Wahome reported that the awards will open for applications for 30 days, after which a rigorous vetting process will follow.
The CS also announced that starting July 1, 2025, the government has transitioned to full e-procurement, aimed at curbing corruption and ensuring transparency in tendering processes.
She cautioned contractors against malpractice such as falsifying tax returns or submitting fake bank guarantees.
“From now on, interaction with procurement is digital and transparent. If you lose a tender, it will be on merit, not manipulation,” assured the CS, adding that only compliant contractors would qualify for future projects.
She further urged contractors to embrace professional support, including procurement officers and legal counsel, to improve their competitiveness in an increasingly standardised sector.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to empowering local players, Wahome affirmed that most current housing and infrastructure projects are being implemented by Kenyan contractors and not foreign firms.
“If Kenyan firms can’t deliver a Sh 1 billion project, how will we compete globally? This work belongs to Kenyans,” posed Wahome, warning against unethical practices such as withholding payments from subcontractors.
She pointed out that integrity and timely delivery are crucial, especially under the affordable housing agenda, which has already disbursed payments to contractors based on verified certificates.
Also speaking at the event, the Principal Secretary (PS) for Public Works, Joel Arumonyang, lauded NCA for organising the forum, insisting that the National Building Code is a national tool for safer, smarter, and more accountable construction.
“These awards are a mechanism to embed the building code into the DNA of our industry. We want contractors who lead through example and think of legacy, not just business,” asserted Arumonyang.
In her remarks, NCA Board Chairperson, Advocate Mercy Okiro, indicated that the Authority is focused on capacity building, inclusive training for women and youth, and deepening county-level engagement.
The Chairperson highlighted ongoing partnerships with TVET institutions, the private sector, and development partners to drive knowledge transfer, upskilling, and compliance.
“Contractors are not just builders; they are standard bearers and innovation catalysts. The Construction Excellence Awards will spotlight those who live the code and elevate benchmarks,” assured Okiro.
She added that NCA would intensify whistleblower protection and compliance monitoring to weed out rogue actors and maintain the sector’s integrity.
Meanwhile, every speaker echoed the need to modernise construction practices through new materials, technologies, and training relevant to today’s demands, including AI integration.
As Kenya targets the delivery of one million affordable housing units in five years, stakeholders at the event agreed that the Construction Excellence Awards, together with the Building Code, provide the tools necessary to transform Kenya’s built environment and enhance public confidence.
By Kamau Daniel and Gesora Minax
