Lamu engineer David Jomeli joins race for IEK council seat

Lamu County Chief Engineer Roads and Structural works, who is also Director- Infrastructure, Roads and Transport David Evans Jomeli /HANDOUT

Veteran civil and structural engineer David Evans Jomeli has declared his bid for the position of Ordinary Council Member at the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) the forthcoming elections.

Jomeli, who currently serves as the Chief Engineer in charge of roads and structural works and Director of Infrastructure, Roads and Transport in the county government of Lamu, is seeking to represent engineers at the council level of the country’s premier professional engineering body.

His entry into the contest slated for March 27, is the latest chapter in a career spanning over 23 years in the engineering profession, during which he has worked across the public sector, private construction industry and technical education space.

“With strong international exposure and a clear understanding of global engineering benchmarks, he brings a world-class perspective to the profession,” he told the Star.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the Technical University of Mombasa and professional diplomas in building and civil engineering from the Mombasa Polytechnic University College.

Over the years he has built expertise in infrastructure development, project planning and management, construction technologies, and renewable energy systems such as solar installation.

Beyond government service, Jomeli has also played an active role in the construction industry as technical director of David Jomeli Malidadi Construction and Supplies Limited, a firm registered to undertake water supply, sewerage, irrigation and dam-related civil works.

The company is also accredited by the National Construction Authority as a Category Two contractor for building, road, water, electrical and mechanical works.

His professional influence extends into industry policy and training. Jomeli is a founding member of the Kenyan Institute of Engineering Technologists and Technicians and has served on several technical committees shaping engineering standards and skills development in Kenya.

He has participated in the formulation of national occupational standards in construction, contributed to the development of curriculum for scaffolding technology training, and helped design mentoring and assessment tools for technical education programmes.

He has also been involved in national policy engagement in the built environment sector, including participating in stakeholder consultations on the draft National Building Regulations and serving on committees under institutions such as the National Construction Authority and the National Industrial Training Authority.

He says that his professional engagements have also extended internationally, including participation in engineering and technical training benchmarking programmes in Germany focused on strengthening dual training models for Kenya’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system.

As part of his professional outreach, he has worked closely with institutions such as the Technical University of Mombasa, Kenya Coast National Polytechnic, and Don Bosco Technical Training Institute to promote dual training programmes and recognition of prior learning for skilled workers in the construction sector.

Within county government, his role overseeing roads and structural works has placed him at the centre of infrastructure development in Lamu, where he supervises planning and implementation of key transport and public works projects.

His campaign for the IEK council seat is expected to focus on strengthening professional standards, supporting engineering education, and enhancing collaboration between industry, academia and government to address Kenya’s growing infrastructure needs.

The Institution of Engineers of Kenya elections on March 27 will determine the composition of the council that guides the organisation’s policy direction and professional development agenda for engineers across the country.