Ministry targets to have more engineers

By MAUREEN ODIWUOR

The Ministry of Industrialisation is targeting close to 30,000 engineers by 2030 to foster faster development.

?PS Cyrus Njiru said there is dire need for engineers, which can only be achieved by upgrading existing technical and technology training institutions. “The existing institutions should be developed to ensure availability of requisite human resource,” said Mr Njiru.?

He noted Kenya has only 10,000 engineers despite the expanding of the export-orientation policies over the years. “Based on lessons learnt from industrialised countries, for every engineer three technologists are required, for every technologist four technicians are required while for every technician five craftsmen mare needed,” the PS said.

He added this has been done to respond to global market structures through various session papers and economic blue prints. Njiru noted the sector has had low value addition especially to the available agricultural and natural resources.

Njiru spoke during a three-day seminar for engineers at Kisumu’s Tom Mboya Labour College.?