Engineers push for digitisation of county approval processes

 

Shammah Kiteme, the president of The Institution of Engineers of Kenya, speaking during a side event at the Devolution Conference 2025, in Homa Bay. [Photo: IEK]

Engineers are calling for the digitisation of approval processes in counties, citing efficiency, accountability, and the need to prevent infrastructural failures.

Speaking during the ongoing 2025 Devolution Conference in Homa Bay, Shammah Kiteme, president of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK), said digitising county systems would fast-track approvals and improve service delivery.

Kiteme pointed to the recent demolition of a building in Mombasa by the county government, attributing it to weak structures and poor oversight, as an example of why counties must adopt technology across critical departments, including roads.

Christine Ogut, the second Vice President of IEK, urged engineers to support counties by helping them identify priority areas and prepare a roadmap for digitization.

“We are ready and available to work with all the 47 counties for digitalization map use of AI and cameras,” she said.

Ogut noted that counties stand to increase their own-source revenue through stronger oversight systems. She highlighted the potential of digital platforms to enhance accountability, transparency, and sustainable growth, stressing that technology could transform how counties manage financial, construction, and infrastructural services.

The engineering fraternity is also pushing for the integration of expertise into every step of the digitization process, from design and deployment to maintenance and innovation. They argue that such a shift would streamline county operations, reduce leakages, expand market access, and contribute to sustainable economic growth.