Architects gather for acclaimed talk series

Archbishop Dr David Oginde with TAA President Sylvia Kasanga.

The episode convened prominent thought leaders for a hard-hitting dialogue on ethics and corruption in Kenya’s professional sector.

TAA President Sylvia Kasanga —an architect, governance advocate, and former Senator– who moderated the session, emphasised the unique responsibility professionals carry in shaping national values:

“As architects and as professionals, we do not operate in isolation,we influence policy, shape the built environment, and interact with public systems. Having served both in the Senate and in practice, I know that silence among professionals often enables structural dysfunction. Through The Lift, we are calling out that silence and creating a space for collective accountability and reform,” she said.

Held at the Crown Paints Showroom in Westlands, the event drew architects, lawyers, policy experts, and anti-corruption advocates into an open dialogue exploring the root causes of ethical erosion in Kenya’s professional landscape.

 The keynote speaker, Archbishop Dr David Oginde, chairperson of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), challenged professionals across all sectors to reflect on their role in either resisting or enabling corrupt systems.

“The fight against corruption is not just a legal or political issue, it is deeply ethical. Professionals must take a stand,” he stated.

Also in attendance was the President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), who emphasized the need for robust internal mechanisms within professional bodies to safeguard integrity and promote accountability.

“The rot we see in institutions often starts with the silence, or active participation of highly trained individuals,” said the LSK President. “We must reform from within if we are to change the national narrative.”

The event provided a rare space for honest critique and constructive solutions around systemic challenges in Kenya’s professional spheres.

 “This is not just an architects’ issue. Engineers, doctors, lawyers, planners, we are all affected when professional values are undermined,” said a TAA spokesperson.

 “This conversation is the beginning of a bigger, national reckoning.” Members of the public and the media are encouraged to follow future episodes of The Lift, as TAA continues to champion transparency, ethical practice, and responsible design in Kenya’s built environment.