Kenya’s construction industry is stepping up efforts to formalise the country’s largely informal fundi workforce as regulators and industry players push for higher standards, safety compliance and certification of workers.
The drive is expected to improve the quality of construction work while giving thousands of artisans who acquired their skills through apprenticeships a pathway to formal recognition and better employment opportunities.
Kenya has a major national technical gap with data from the National Construction Authority (NCA) indicating that while over 90 per cent of Kenyan developments rely on onsite wastewater systems, only 30 per cent of local construction artisans hold formal technical training.
“Fundis should be agents of compliance, because if you build without proper licences, you are the one who will be arrested,” said Real Building Workers Association of Kenya president James Karatu.
NCA is participating in efforts to train construction workers on building regulations, industry compliance, occupational safety and the use of emerging construction technologies.
The push comes as construction workers increasingly encounter new materials, products and technologies that require specialised knowledge to install and use correctly.
Speaking during the BioTank Africa Fundi Forum, founder and general manager at BioTank Africa, Edwin Kirugo, said many construction workers had acquired their skills informally through apprenticeship but lacked formal certification to demonstrate their competencies.
“Our fundis are our primary brand ambassadors on the ground, making sure every installation protects public health and meets strict quality standards. With over 90 percent of the country depending on onsite sanitation, the artisans we accredit today are directly building safer, cleaner communities for tomorrow,” said Kirugo.
The organisers said they were working with technical institutions and universities to facilitate recognition of prior learning, allowing experienced workers to have their existing skills assessed and formally certified.
The recognition of prior learning could provide a route into the formal construction economy for workers who have spent years gaining practical experience without undergoing conventional technical training.
The sector has a large pool of such workers, particularly in residential construction, where fundis often operate outside formal employment structures.
Beyond technical skills, the training is also targeting workplace safety, an increasingly important concern in an industry where workers face significant risks.
Workers at the Kitengela forum were trained on occupational safety and health, risk mitigation and personal accident risks, with the organisers emphasising that construction work should not be undertaken at the expense of workers’ safety.
The programme also covered industry ethics, financial wellness and mental wellbeing, reflecting a broader push to professionalise the construction workforce beyond technical skills.
Tax compliance has also emerged as part of the formalisation drive, with the Kenya Revenue Authority brought in to educate construction workers on tax obligations and the penalties that can arise from non-compliance.
The move could help bring more informal construction activity into the formal economy while improving workers’ understanding of their obligations as contractors, artisans and service providers.
The formalisation drive is also being linked to the rapid expansion of construction in areas such as Kitengela, which has experienced significant development and growing demand for housing and other infrastructure.
