Architects and quantity surveyors in Kenya: cost and value in 2026

Architects and quantity surveyors are the two most consequential professional appointments on a Kenyan build, and the two appointments owners most often cut corners on. Here is the honest 2026 guide on what they do, what they cost and what good ones save you.

What the architect actually does

• Translates the brief into a build design
• Produces drawings (architectural, coordinated with structural and engineering)
• Submits and runs the planning and building approval process
• Specifies finishes
• Supervises construction (extent depends on the engagement model)
• Certifies progress payments to the contractor
• Issues practical completion and handover certificates

What the quantity surveyor actually does

• Quantifies the bill of materials and labour from the design
• Produces the bill of quantities (BoQ) used to tender the work
• Negotiates the contract sum with the contractor
• Tracks progress against the BoQ
• Values variations
• Certifies progress payments alongside the architect
• Produces the final account at end of project

Typical fees

• Architect (BORAQS scale): 6 to 10 percent of construction cost
• Quantity surveyor: 1 to 2 percent of construction cost
• Structural engineer: 1 to 1.5 percent
• Electrical and mechanical engineer: 0.5 to 1 percent each
• Project manager (where separate): 2 to 4 percent

What good ones save you

• Design that matches the budget rather than aspiration: 5 to 15 percent saved on construction cost
• Approvals that go through first time: 2 to 6 months saved on timeline
• BoQ that prevents contractor padding: 5 to 10 percent saved on materials
• Progress certification that prevents over-payment relative to actual work: 5 to 10 percent saved on cash flow discipline
• Variation control that prevents the build creeping in scope: 10 to 25 percent saved on the eventual final account
• Contract administration that protects the owner from contractor disputes: difficult to quantify, sometimes the difference between a finished build and an abandoned site

How to choose

• Verify BORAQS registration (architects) and IQSK registration (QS)
• See three completed projects of similar scale and brief
• Talk to two recent clients
• Review their drawings and BoQs from previous projects
• Check that they will sign as principal agent on your contract
• Confirm professional indemnity insurance

When owners try to cut corners

• Self-managing without an architect: almost always over budget and behind schedule. Approvals nightmare. Disputes with contractor that nobody arbitrates
• Skipping the QS: contractors quote loosely, materials inflate, variations accumulate, final account surprise
• Hiring unqualified family member: best case awkward, worst case litigation

Owners who tried to save on the architect and QS almost always paid more than they would have. The savings on professional fees are visible. The savings their absence causes are invisible until the build runs out of money.

How Goldstay handles it

For build clients we connect to BORAQS registered architects and IQSK registered QS partners we have worked with for years. We take no cut of their fees and we do not run the build. What we do pick up is the finished house: send it through list your property and we will come back with an achievable rent before you commit to the final finishes. Read also our pieces on cost of building and county building approvals.