By John Mutiso
David Mutiso, a pioneering architect best known for helping design the iconic Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), has died.
In a statement on Tuesday, December 2, the Association of Professional Societies in East Africa (APSEA) confirmed his death and honoured his contribution to the profession.
“We mourn the passing of Arch. David Mutiso, Kenya’s first indigenous architect, former Chairman of the Association of Professional Societies in East Africa (1975-1977), and a distinguished member of the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK),” the statement read.
APSEA added that Mutiso’s legacy will continue to influence generations of architects and professionals across the region.
“He leaves behind a remarkable legacy, including his role in designing the iconic KICC and his decades of professional leadership. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, colleagues, and the entire Professional community,” the statement added.
KICC is one of Kenya’s most recognisable landmarks; conceived in the late 1960s, the project emerged from a national desire to position Nairobi as a regional hub for international conferences and diplomacy.
The government commissioned the building in 1967, only a few years after independence, and construction proceeded in phases over several years.
By the time it officially opened in 1973, the complex had already established itself as a major venue capable of attracting high-profile global meetings, including the 1973 IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings.
KICC’s architectural authorship is shared between Norwegian architect Karl Henrik Nøstvik and Mutiso.
Mutiso, then serving as Chief Architect at the Ministry of Works, played a leading role in shaping the early concept and ensuring it aligned with Kenya’s needs and identity.
Nøstvik later took over the project through his private practice and finalised the building’s detailed design.
“The blueprints from these years state that Karl Nøstvik was responsible for the design. At the end of 1970, Nøstvik left the Ministry of Works and opened his own private architectural practice in Nairobi.
“In the second planning phase, the KICC was designed in the private practice of Nøstvik,” Geneva-based architect Prof Manuel Herz said in a past interview.
