Sh2b for graduates who board failed to register

By Isaiah Lucheli   

Ten thousand university graduates have been awarded Sh2 billion for the failure of the Engineering Registration board to enrol them.

Mr Justice David Majanja on Monday ordered the board to pay general damages assessed at Sh200,000 to each of the Egerton University and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology students.

“The board should pay general damages to any other public university graduating at least three years prior to the commencement of the Engineers Act, 2011. The said sum shall carry interest at a rate of 12 per cent per annum from the date of this judgement,” he ruled.

Majanja noted that graduates had not been able to secure employment despite their qualifications.

The judge also directed the board to within 14 days publish in the newspapers an advertisement to invite applications from students who graduated prior to September 14, 2012 for consideration as graduate engineers.

Majanja also dismissed without costs petitions against Moi, Egerton and Masinde Muliro universities, and the Commission for Higher Education filed by the board.

The board had refused to recognise the courses offered at the universities.