Register as Critical Instrument in the Regulation of Built Environment Professions: A QDA of Institutional Frameworks for Practice

Abstract

The paper evaluates the register’s mechanism as an instrument of regulation for professions in the built environment, taking the case of Kenya. It undertakes a qualitative document analysis (QDA) of the regulatory legislations for professions in the built environment: including architecture, engineering, planning and surveying professions. It proceeds with the analysis within the framework of key elements of professional regulation: registration, protection of title, fitness to practice, education and training. It demonstrates that the register is central to professional regulation, that it can easily guide what to include in the regulatory statutes to the extent that what cannot be manipulated using the register is outside the scope of professional regulation. The paper gives central focus to the register whereas most research have focused on fitness to practice and education and training. It embraces all the professions of the built environment while much of the professional regulation literature dwells on health and health care sectors. The limitation of the approach is that it neglects the standards as an equally significant driver of regulation. Recommendations are made to include standards as a complementary element.