The Association of Professional Societies in East Africa (APSEA) is a professional membership organization established in 1961 as an umbrella body that brings together professional societies of diverse disciplines. Currently the Association has thirty (30) corporate members in Kenya constituting all major professions in the country including medicine, law, accounting, engineering, architecture, public and corporate administration, veterinary science, planning, geology, surveying, ICT, procurement, and marketing among many others. APSEA was established, to maintain and advance the highest professional standards in the public interest, and to promote the interest of member societies and the professions generally. Since inauguration, the functions of the Association have been broadened to embrace all matters of common professional interest with particular emphasis on higher education leading to professional qualifications.
The founding Chairman was Mr. D. J. Coward and the Vice Chairman Mr. D. M. Mutiso.

THE NEED FOR A PROFESSIONAL CENTRE

 In 1966, the Commonwealth Foundation was established by the Commonwealth Governments, to maintain and improve (in the interests of the public) standards of knowledge, attainment and conduct in the skilled or learned professions and skilled auxiliary occupations within the Commonwealth. Early in 1968, Mr. Graham McCullough, met Mr. John Chadwick, CMG, the director of the Foundation, for discussions on matters of mutual interest and at that meeting  a suggestion emerged that there might be scope for establishing in Kenya a Professional Centre which could serve as headquarters for the various professional organizations with provision for a secretariat and meeting rooms.
The Association agreed that there was an urgent need for such facilities if professional activity were to develop along modern lines and set up a committee to investigate the matter. The Committee studied the problem through a series of questionnaires and interviews with the officers of member societies and submitted a report to Council in December 1969, in which it found that a demand for such a Centre existed and reported enthusiastic support from member societies. The committee recommended that the Centre should be established without delay, despite the fact that it would at first have only temporary premises with limited facilities, and that the ultimate objective should be to build or purchase a permanent building which could be identified as the focal point for professional activity in Kenya. The committee's recommendations were adopted by the Association in January 1970.

By courtesy of the Law Society of Kenya, the Centre was opened in May 1970, in Vedic House, Queensway, Nairobi, in premises which, until then, had been occupied solely by that Society.  A development committee was next established to open negotiations with the Kenya Government for the allocation of a site suitable for a permanent building, to raise the necessary funds and to superintend and arrange the design and construction of the building. By the beginning of 1971, this committee had concluded negotiations with Government for the allocation of the site, on which the building now stands, on Parliament Road, Nairobi.

BUILDING COSTS

It was decided that the cost of building the Centre should so far as possible be covered by self help contributions in cash and kind and, therefore, a fund raising appeal was launched to ensure that the Centre should not be saddled with costs of servicing heavy interest charges on loan capital. Under the patronage of the Attorney General Hon. Charles Njonjo, the patron of the Association, an appeal fund was launched and donations sought both from overseas foundations and similar institutions and from all sections of the public in Kenya. The appeal was given a magnificent start by a grant of Sterling £ 20,000 from the commonwealth Foundation. This was followed later by a further grant of Sterling £ 7,500 and by a final grant of £ 10,000 sterling towards the cost of furnishing and fitting out of the Centre. The total contribution of the Foundation was therefore Sterling £ 37,500. Members of the various professional societies and a number of public spirited Kenya Trusts and commercial organizations made generous support towards the completion of the Centre.

CONSTRUCTION

The Centre was fortunate in having the services of its Honorary Architects, Messrs. Triad (of which Graham McCullough a member) to advice on all aspects of the design of the building which led to the most magnificent building we see today along Parliament Road. Whilst the main work on the design was that of Mr. Alex Cohen, the Centre was most fortunate in having the enthusiastic support of Mr. Harry Averly and Mr. Andrew Phillips. The legal work in connection with the project was undertaken by the Centre's Honorary Advocates, Messrs Hamilton Harrison & Mathews and a further most valuable contribution was that of Messrs. Davson & Ward, the Centre?s Honorary Quantity Surveyors, Messrs. Amstrong & Duncan and Messrs. Barker & Richard, Quantity Surveyors, Messrs. Cowiconsult, Structural Engineers, and Messrs. Bikroconsult, Mechanical Engineers.

It is with great pleasure and pride that we record that all the professional services of each of these persons and firms in connection with the Centre was given entirely free and without remuneration or reward other than the knowledge that without their assistance the building would not have been erected.

MANAGEMENT

 In 1972 the Centre was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee with the name of The Professional Centre. It is managed by a council of management the members of which comprise all the members of the company and are appointed by the Council of the Association from time to time.