IEK raises alarm over rising unemployment among qualified engineers

IEK president Shammah Kiteme/FILE

The Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) has raised concern over a growing number of qualified engineers in the country who remain unemployed or underutilized.

The body is warning that the trend could undermine Kenya’s infrastructure development and long-term economic growth.

IEK President Shammah Kiteme said Kenya has invested heavily in training engineers but many professionals are yet to secure meaningful employment despite the country’s ongoing infrastructure expansion.

Data from the Engineers Board of Kenya shows that the last year alone, it licensed 2,666 engineers and engineering consulting firms, including 159 consulting firms and 2,507 professional engineers.

“Kenya has a large pool of highly trained and competent engineers who remain underutilised despite their central role in nation-building,” Kiteme said.

The IEK president referenced a protest march held by engineers last year on Katiba Day, where the institution organised what it called the “10,000 Engineers March” to highlight the unemployment crisis within the profession.

Following the march, IEK presented a petition to President William Samoei Ruto calling for the employment of at least 10,000 engineers across government projects and agencies.

According to IEK, the Executive Office of the President subsequently directed the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to review the issues raised and explore practical solutions to the rising unemployment among engineers.

Kiteme said the institution later held consultations with Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua to discuss ways of improving the welfare, utilisation and empowerment of Kenyan engineers.

During the meeting, IEK proposed measures including increased absorption of engineers in the public sector, expansion of opportunities in the private sector, and structured internship and mentorship programmes for young professionals.

“IEK outlined targeted measures aimed at strengthening public sector absorption, expanding private sector opportunities, enhancing structured internship and mentorship programmes, and aligning national development priorities with engineering capacity to safeguard sustainable national development and promote meaningful employment,” said Kiteme.

The institution also urged the government to align national development priorities with the available engineering capacity to ensure the country fully benefits from its trained workforce.

He noted that engineers are central to infrastructure modernisation, energy security, industrial growth, climate adaptation and digital transformation.

“Every road that connects our towns, every bridge that links communities and every power system that lights our homes is the product of engineering expertise,” he said.

The IEK president also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve governance and quality standards in the engineering sector through collaboration with institutions such as the Engineers Board of Kenya, the Association of Consulting Engineers of Kenya and universities, including the University of Nairobi.