Engineers demand greater role in policy decisions

Institution of Engineers of Kenya President Eng. Shammah Kiteme. [File, Standard]

The Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) is calling on the government to involve engineers in decisions that affect the profession and infrastructure development.

At the IEK Annual General Meeting, President Eng. Shama Kiteme stressed the need for structured engagement between policymakers and engineers.

Kiteme pointed to recent government policies, such as the restructuring and defunding of some state corporations, which were made without engineering input.

“We are keen on matters that affect the practice of engineering in Kenya,” Kiteme said.

One key concern raised was the Public Service Commission’s (PSC) career guidelines, which engineers feel are unfair.

Kiteme explained that engineers have long expressed dissatisfaction with their compensation compared to other professions.

“The concern for engineers is that, from January 2023, they raised concerns about the compensation for engineers being unfair, compared to other professions,” he added.

 “The request was for consideration for the improvement of entry grade for engineers, but PSC did not grant that. The consideration for the practising allowance and risk allowance, PSC did not approve that. So, members are exploring other ways of making sure they address this injustice.”

Engineers also voiced frustration over limited job opportunities, despite the ongoing infrastructure boom.

Kiteme said the government should make a deliberate effort to ensure that local companies are awarded infrastructure projects.

“The country is so busy with infrastructure, yet there are limited opportunities for engineers,” Kiteme said.

“There should be a deliberate effort to ensure that infrastructure projects are given to citizen companies and local companies,” he noted.

A recent decision to retain mathematics as a compulsory subject for students beyond Grade 10 was also welcomed by the engineers. They had opposed a proposal to remove the subject from the curriculum.

“There was a proposal to remove mathematics from being compulsory, but the government has now decided to retain it as part of the curriculum,” Kiteme noted, adding, “This is a victory for the country. We need to have future generations with proper numeracy skills in the era of artificial intelligence and big data.”

Kiteme expressed concern over the Cabinet’s decision to collapse and defund state corporations, noting the move could threaten engineers’ current jobs and future prospects.

“We hope to be involved in these decisions, as they directly affect engineers,” he said.

The AGM also addressed concerns about the regulation of the engineering profession, particularly the fairness of the continuous professional development framework.

Kiteme said IEK is advocating for changes to make the process more equitable.

“Engineers are strongly advocating for a review of the continuous professional development framework to ensure fairness,” he said.

In a bid to strengthen their influence, IEK has formed task forces in key sectors such as aviation, transportation, and agriculture.

Kiteme said these groups have developed policy proposals for the government to consider.

“Engineers are concerned about shaping national policy, particularly those affecting infrastructure,” Kiteme said.

 “They have established task forces with expertise and proposed policy measures that the government should consider.”

He pledged IEK’s renewed commitment to engaging with policymakers and the public to drive policy changes.

“We will engage with policymakers and the public to promote proposals that can shape the country’s policies,” he said.