The National Construction Authority hosted the 5th edition of its premier event, the International Construction Research Conference and Exhibition (ICoRCE), from the 25th-27th of September 2024 at Pride Inn Paradise, Mombasa County. ICoRCE 2024 took place under the theme of “Leveraging the potential of MSMEs and technology for a resilient and sustainable construction industry" with Lands, Housing, Public Works and Urban Development Cabinet Secretary Hon. Alice Wahome gracing the opening ceremony as the event's Chief Guest and Patron.

In her remarks Hon. Wahome underscored the timeliness of the conference and its theme given the impact and role Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises are playing in both local and global advancements “As we steer our ship into a new development course in a changing world, the importance of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and the circular economy is crystal clear. MSMEs, which account for 90% of businesses, more than 70% of employment, and 50% of GDP worldwide, remain the core of the economy for most societies. Micro, small and medium sized enterprises are vital in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. They are an important element in the implementation of SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure.)”

The Honorable Cabinet Secretary Further lauded NCA for being front and center in continuously seeking solutions for the construction industry and urged participants to make the most of the opportunity that the conference had accorded them. “Let me emphasize my profound gratitude to the National Construction Authority for organizing this conference to enable the construction industry to discuss the fundamental and emerging issues in the construction industry. It is my appeal to the construction industry to take advantage of this conference to exhaustively discuss and come up with resolutions that can be implemented for the benefit of the industry.”

On his part, State Department for Public Works Principal Secretary Mr. Joel Arumonyang noted that despite receiving attention policy wise from the onset of Kenya’s independence, the MSMEs sector is yet to realize maximum potential, hence the importance of the ICoRCE 2024’s intentions “Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises provide enormous opportunities for socio-economic transformation of Kenya’s economy. The Sector has received policy attention since 1965, but it is yet to fully achieve its full potential. Development of this Sector therefore, is central to realization of national development goals anchored in the Kenya Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda”.

NCA Vice Chairperson Adv. Mercy Okiro highlighted the Authority’s sustained research efforts as guided by the National Construction Research Agenda (NaCRA) “Ladies and gentlemen, the resolutions of the previous International Construction Research Conference and Exhibition (ICORCEs) and the status of their implementation informed the current theme which speaks to the government’s economic agenda, the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) with priorities in Agriculture, MSMEs, Affordable Housing, Digital & Creative Economy, Health as critical economic stimulus activities to create new jobs and grow incomes.”

As the convener and conferences’ host, NCA Executive Director, Eng. Maurice Akech, MBS thanked everyone present for heeding the clarion call to gather and chart a way forward for the construction industry as informed by robust research. “I would like to thank you all for accepting to grace the National Construction Authority and the Construction Industry’s Premier event. Your dedication and collaboration are significant to the success of this event and to the broader mandate being pursued in the construction industry.”

Over the course of its duration ICoRCE provided a platform for expression of diverse perspectives within its overarching theme and five sub themes. Participants were exposed to paper presentations, keynote addresses from captains of industry, policy makers and academia, panel discussions and site visits to various infrastructure projects on the final day.

Amongst the Keynote speakers who gave addresses at the conference were, nominated Senator. Hon. Crystal Asige and State Department for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Principal Secretary Susan Mang’eni.

Hon. Asige, whose keynote address was on ‘Embracing Inclusivity and Diversity in Construction’, challenged construction industry players and stakeholders to turn the tide on what she termed as ableism that is prevalent in the implementation of construction works and infrastructure projects to the eventual detriment of persons living with disability. “Disability has proven to me time and time again that it is not the white cane or the wheel chair, not the hearing aid or the prosthetic that is the barrier, it is the inaccessible environment around us that is the problem.”

P.S Mang’eni, on the other hand, while giving her address on ‘MSMEs as a Pillar of Development’, commended NCA for anchoring the conference’s discussions on MSMEs, terming testament to the significance of contributions made by MSMEs to Kenya’s economy. “We need to create an enabling environment for small scale local contractors so that they can deliver local infrastructure construction works by introducing appropriate systems for fair and open contract management and selection procedures and certifying contractors trained on local resources-based works” added the P.S Mang’eni.