This archive report was first published on 10 September 2019.
On March 8, the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) ceased operations, and the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development began the process of constituting a new board. However, six months later, the process remains incomplete, according to the Forum for Restoration of Professional Engineering in Kenya (Forpe).
Forpe Organising Secretary Martin Aluga stated, “Currently, there is no EBK since March 8 and the parent ministry started the process constituting a new board. Six months later, the process has not been concluded.”
Aluga emphasized that the absence of the EBK has resulted in the stalling of registration of engineers and inspection of construction sites, posing a risk to public safety.
Forpe has threatened to petition the President if the Ministry fails to establish the EBK. Aluga attributed the decline of professionalism in the sector to the Ministry's neglect and blamed the Ministry for the deterioration of professionalism, discrimination, inadequate training and mentorship, poor remuneration, poor regulatory framework, political influence, and accreditation challenges.
Aluga noted that the recent forum aimed to find a viable solution to address these issues and that the Kenya Engineering Sector Working Group has been formed to follow up on these matters with member organizations in the engineering sector.
He also highlighted the disparity in treatment of engineers working in the public sector, stating that they deserve better considering their importance in the economy.
Aluga observed that temporary engineers employed by the EBK registrar are predominantly from Uganda, Jamaica, Serbia, and Rwanda, with no representation from China or Japan, despite the significant presence of expatriates from these countries in the construction sector.
