- Architects urged to use AI for safer, climate resilient designs
- Traditional Kisii housing principles offer lessons for modern construction
- Kenya faces a shortage of architects and engineers as professionals age
Kenya National Association of Architects President George Ndege has urged members to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) in construction designs.
Ndege was speaking during the association’s Annual Kisii Branch meeting at Hotel Humphreys. He met more than 17 architects and engineers from the region during the unveiling of a traditional Abagusii house built with a modern architectural touch to withstand emerging climatic changes like El Nino and La Nina.
Houses versus homes
Ndege said architects must differentiate houses from homes. He noted that some architects are bringing up sick homes by encouraging the construction of poor houses that host diseases like malaria. “Show me a good house and I will show you a healthy society,” he said.
He said the construction industry is evolving fast, and architects must move with technology to design houses that are safe, affordable and climate resilient. AI, he added, can help in coming up with strong designs, cost estimation and predicting how buildings will respond to floods, strong winds and earthquakes.
A shrinking profession
The President decried the small number of architects in the country, saying there are only 2,000 qualified and registered architects and 1,000 engineers in Kenya. He asked youth in secondary schools to embrace science subjects and study hard to fill the gaps in the profession. “We are going to become old and retire from the profession, who will replace us unless we mentor and encourage our brothers and sisters to work hard in class,” he asked.
Leaders grace the event
The meeting was graced by Borabu MP Patrick Osero and former Kisii University Vice Chancellor Prof John Akama, with their spouses. They were accompanied by the Kisii County Secretary in charge of Culture, Social Services, Sports, Youth and Chicken, Margaret Obaga, who was accompanied by her husband Obaga.
Osero thanked the Kiong’anyo Cultural Organization (KICO), chaired by Samson Nyamoko and directed by Moses Okemwa, for hosting the event in Kisii County. He asked them to extend the services to Nyamira County. “We are one people as Kisii Community despite having different administrative names, I hope you will touch Nyamira too,” he said.
Akama led the unveiling of the Gusii traditional huts with a modern touch at Kiang’anyo Hill. He challenged the architects to design them with the community’s concept of embracing societal ethics called Chinsoni, which have safeguarded the community since time immemorial during their several migrations from Mt Elgon until they settled at their present home highlands in Kenya.
“We are special people endowed with wisdom and this has withstood the test of time by the way we live peacefully by embracing respect among the old, and this should be reflected in our domiciles,” he said.
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He also challenged scholars to research the community’s way of building houses and combine them with present architectural technology, urging them to document timeless principles that will help future generations value the principles of house building meant to safeguard the peaceful stay of mankind.
Obaga said a building is not only a structure but also what is inside it. She regretted that the community had a lot of undocumented traditional wisdom, including the ever world uttered successful traditional head surgery done in the region by Abamachuki, and challenged researchers, scholars and journalists to join hands and put the records in order for the benefit of posterity.
Inside the traditional Kisii hut
The meeting was thrilled when members were taken through the construction and features of the traditional Kisii hut known as Enyomba. The hut is circular in shape, a design that allows wind to flow around it and prevents it from being blown away easily. At the centre stands a strong wooden post called Ritiro Rinene, which supports the entire roof and holds the house firm against strong winds.
The walls are made of a woven framework called Chindigi, thin straight sticks carefully tied together with creepers. The framework is then plastered with a special mixture of red soil and cow dung known as Esike Y’esimbagera. This mixture holds great significance: it seals cracks, prevents dust, repels insects and keeps the house warm at night and cool during the day. The floor is also smeared with the same Esike Y’esimbagera to keep away fleas and jiggers.
The roof is constructed from long poles called Chindege that run from the Ritiro Rinene to the wall, with a thick thatch made from dry grass laid on top. According to elders, the thatch can be Ekenyoru, Ekebabe, Esinde or Chimboba, depending on availability.
The thatch is highly respected because it does not rust, it regulates temperature naturally, and its sloping shape allows rainwater to flow quickly, preventing leakages during El Nino rains. A small opening at the top allows smoke from the fireplace inside to escape, which in turn treats the thatch and makes it last longer while keeping mosquitoes away.
By Enock Okongó
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