Ethical Issues in the Construction Industry in Kenya: A Critical Analysis of the Professional Conduct in Engineering Technology Management

Abstract

This research paper addresses the ethical issues facing the construction industry in Kenya. It forms a framework for ethical standards in the construction industry by recommending concrete measures on the cases of collapsing buildings such as Nyamakima building in Nairobi in 2006, sunbeam building and another building at Nyamakima unfinished and poorly constructed roads in 2012 as well as corruption. These have been based on the identification of ethical issues from the results of comprehensive and in depth research carried out through questionnaire survey, interviews and telephonic survey of various stakeholders in sample projects, employees of each of them and also study of related engineering journals. Many Institutes, Societies and Boards of Engineers globally provide guidelines for engineers. In Kenya, the Engineers Registration Board (ERB) has likewise issued strict and professional stipulations for engineers, consultants, contractors and other stakeholders in this field, but in practice these are rarely followed to the letter. The existing standards in this paper have been compared with our socio cultural traditions and with ethical standards and practices of developed countries. Finally, a mechanism has been recommended which can deal with most of the ethical issues confronting construction industry in Kenya.

Purpose: The main purpose of this paper is to find out ethical issues facing construction industry in Kenya with a greater emphasis being placed on knowledge of ethical codes of conduct, corruption and bribery, favoritism, unfair conduct, strict rules and overriding of the audit process.

Methodology: The paper employed a survey research design. A survey of the selected study population in Kenya was carried out by use of questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions (Engineers). The sample size of this research was estimated at 600 participants.

Findings: - A major finding was found to be the weakening influence of the engineering institutions to instill ethical concerns on the engineers and other members of the profession on ethical consideration construction industry in Kenya.

Conclusion: This study is focused on the ethical considerations in construction industry in Kenya. Taken as a whole, our findings suggest that, there are some shortcomings associated with the current construction and engineering process and thus ethical consideration could help revamp the whole system.

Keywords: Construction industry, Professional conduct, engineering, ethical issues