EBK to establish centers of excellence for training

Yobesh Onwong’a -MyGov

Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) has mooted plans to establish two centres of excellence for training and innovation to build capacity of engineering practice in the country, EBK Chairman Eng Erastus Mwongera has said.

The centres, Kenya Academy of Engineering Technology and the Kenya School of Engineering, will offer training that will align the country’s engineering standards with global benchmarks.

“EBK’s strategic intent is focused on transformative growth and development with an aim to increase the number of registered engineers from the current 4,000 to 10,000 that will ensure a robust and capable workforce,” Eng Mwongera said.

Speaking during the Engineering @ 60 celebration in Nairobi, the Chairman said in a bid to strengthen compliance with the Engineers Act 2011, the Board is developing and enforcing engineering standards both at the national and county levels.

“Over the past year, we have taken significant steps to enhance efficiency and accountability in our processes. Notably, the time required for the registration of professional engineers has been reduced from six months to three months.

“This streamlining has allowed qualified engineers to join the workforce more quickly, bolstering our capacity to meet the growing demands of the industry,” he said.

Eng. Mwongera disclosed that the Graduate Engineers Internship Program (GEIP) has also been instrumental in bridging the gap between academic qualifications and professional practice.

Commenting on compliance, the Chairman said while public infrastructure projects are generally subjected to rigorous standards, many private developments continue to bypass the involvement of licensed engineers and competent contractors, leading to unsafe structures and putting lives at risk.

Eng. Mwongera warned that EBK will continue with extensive compliance audits to enhance adherence to engineering standards to improve the safety and quality of infrastructure projects to reinforce public confidence in the engineering profession.

Davis Chirchir, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Roads and Transport, underscored the remarkable contribution of engineers’ expertise and dedication that laid the foundation for Kenya.

“We have moved from a nation with limited connectivity to one that the road network has grown to 239,122 kilometers with the paved network also increased to 25,410.69 kilometers as per the Countrywide Road Inventory and Condition Survey (2023) bringing our cities and rural areas closer and spurring economic growth across all regions.”

“Our power grid, which stretched to only 1,300 kilometers in 1963, now extends beyond 65,000 kilometers, bringing electricity to over 75 per cent of households with most constituencies having 99 per cent electricity and additionally powering industries and businesses alike,” Chirchir said.

He noted that the country’s ports, cargo handling capacity has grown exponentially, from less than two million tons annually at independence to over 40 million tons today, making Kenya a vital trade hub in East Africa and beyond.

Meanwhile, the CS said that telecommunications have revolutionized how Kenyans live and work. With over 95 per cent of Kenyans connected to mobile networks and widespread internet penetration, our country has become a leader in digital innovation, including mobile banking, fintech, and e-commerce.

Chirchir disclosed that the collapse of buildings and other unsafe infrastructure remains a grave concern. Adding that only qualified professionals and contractors should be entrusted with construction projects.

“To achieve this, we will introduce regulations requiring mandatory registration of all engineering projects on the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) Engineers’ Project Registration Portal, a prerequisite for submitting engineering drawings to county governments, enhancing accountability and safety,” the CS said.

Eng. Joseph Mbugua, the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Roads said engineers play a central role in the success of our infrastructure projects, yet the progression of their careers often encounters systemic hurdles.

“The State Department of Roads has been working closely with key stakeholders, including the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK), the Public Service Commission, and other agencies, to finalize Career Progression Guidelines for Engineering cadres in public service,” Eng. Mbugua said.