Women engineers push for 50% share of construction contracts in the country

President of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Kenya Jane Mutulili, Engineers Board of Kenya CEO Margaret Ogai and Kenya Rural Roads Authority, director general Jackson Magondu at the sidelines of the Women in Construction Sector celebrations /JACKTONE LAWI.

Women engineers in Kenya are pushing for a greater share of opportunities in the country’s construction sector, calling for women to secure at least 50 per cent of construction project contracts and works.

Speaking during the second edition of the Women in Construction Sector celebrations, leaders in the engineering sector said increasing women’s participation in the industry is critical for fairness and national development.

 Engineers Board of Kenya CEO Margaret Ogai said the sector has seen a steady rise in the number of women joining engineering and construction fields, though representation remains low.

“When I first joined the ministry, the number of women in the field was very small and easy to count. Today, the numbers have grown significantly, and we are encouraged by the progress,” Ogai said.

She noted that beyond increasing numbers, there is a push to ensure women advance professionally and take up leadership roles within the industry.

“We are encouraging professional career development so that women occupy leadership positions and the entire country can feel the impact of their contribution in construction,” she added.

Currently, women account for about 14 per cent of engineers and only about five per cent of players in the construction sector, figures that industry leaders say highlight the need for deliberate interventions.

President of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Kenya Jane Mutulili said the constitutional requirement that reserves 30 per cent of government procurement opportunities for special groups should be fully realised within construction and engineering projects. However, she argued that fairness demands a higher target.

“The Constitution gives us 30 per cent, but in terms of fairness it should actually be 50 per cent because women are as many as men. If we achieve 30 per cent we will be doing well, but morally we should be aiming for 50 per cent,” Mutulili said.

She added that increasing women’s participation in construction businesses, including contracting, consulting and supply of materials would help close the gap.

The call was echoed during the Women in Construction Sector International Women’s Day celebrations that brought together 143 women working in Kenya’s construction industry.

Industry leaders said universities are already recording progress, with women making up close to 30 per cent of students pursuing technical courses such as engineering, architecture and construction surveying.

Ogai said mentorship programmes targeting high school students are being intensified to guide girls on subject selection, noting that core subjects such as mathematics, physics and chemistry are essential for engineering careers.

“We want young women to understand that engineering is not as difficult as people imagine. It is a rewarding career where women can build roads, design telecommunications systems and even contribute to the aviation and space sectors,”  Ogai added.

Kenya Rural Roads Authority, director general Jackson Magondu said empowering women in construction would strengthen infrastructure development across the country.

“Kenya’s construction sector is central to national development from roads to housing and digital cities. When we give women opportunities in this industry, we gain stronger infrastructure,” Magondu said.

Participants said increasing women-led engineering firms and expanding procurement opportunities for women will be key to ensuring the sector becomes more inclusive.

The event brought together policymakers, regulators and industry professionals, offering young engineers a platform to network and share experiences while highlighting the growing role of women shaping Kenya’s construction sector.