Kenyan engineers seek recognition to practice globally

The Institute of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) has announced reforms that aim to enable local professionals to work globally without the need for a bridging curriculum.

This announcement comes as Kenya seeks to become a signatory to the Washington Accord, an international agreement that recognizes engineering qualifications across member countries.

Engineers Board of Kenya Chairman Erastus Mwongera, said that the accreditation process is progressing, with a mock assessment of university programs offered localy recently completed.

"We hope that the actual assessment next month will be successful. By June next year (2025), we expect Kenya could be admitted as a signatory with interim status," said Mwongera.

Should the country be enjoined as part of the Washington Accord, it will allow Kenyan engineers to practice internationally without having to undertake additional courses in other jurisdictions.

Mwongera further noted that Kenya’s membership in the International Engineering Alliance will elevate local universities to centers of excellence, attracting international students.

Additionally, Kenyan consultancy firms will be able to compete on equal footing with global firms, rather than being limited to local partnerships.

Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation, Eric Mugaa, said that as part of the initiatives to engage local engineers, they will be involved in PPS and PIPs.            

“In the ministry, we are in the proposal of receiving PIPs, for projects like Lamu desalination plant and Mzima 2 pipeline. There are these projects where we will engage local engineers where they will learn skills transfer from private developers and utilise these for future development,” said CS Mugaa.

Last year, Engineers across East Africa, began the standardisation of the profession to stop outsourcing of experts from other areas.

The states had penned a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) to harmonise the regions curriculum and form a single union with all EAC member states, a process that its update is yet to be released.

They were speaking during the announcement of IEK’s 31st International Convention, set to take place from October 29 to November 1, 2024.

IEK President Shammah Kiteme noted that the upcoming convention is a critical forum for addressing challenges in Kenya’s industrial growth.

"The convention will provide a platform for policymakers to engage, share innovations, and forge partnerships that will advance the industrialization agenda," Kiteme added.

The event, themed “Industrialization for Economic Transformation and Employment Creation,” will gather engineers, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss how industrialization can boost Kenya’s economy and create jobs.

The convention is expected to attract over 3,000 participants, both in-person and virtually, and will focus on fostering innovation and promoting industrial growth.