Professional engineers in the country now have to update the status of projects they are undertaking on a new portal unveiled by the regulator in new crackdown on rogue engineers.
Under the plan, The Institution of Engineers of Kenya, Engineering Board of Kenya, the police and National Construction Authority will undertake periodical evaluations on the status of the construction projects.
The institutions said this would ensure that projects comply with the set standards.
Engineers Board of Kenya CEO Margaret Ogai, and Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Roads Joseph Mbugua said there are increasing cases where quacks undertake constructions.
“We have come up with a portal where all engineers have to register their projects and we are going to monitor these projects. We are implementing the directive that only duly registered engineers by the board should be carrying out engineering work,” said Ogai at the launch of the 30th IEK Convention.
Mbugua said that with government scaling up affordable housing agenda there is need to standardise construction across board.
“We can’t afford a scenario where the president commissions a development then later we hear that it has collapsed,” said Mbugua.
The country has witnessed increased incidents of collapsed buildings leading t loss of lives and property. Quacks have been blamed for the substandard work.
“As a State Department, we commit to enforce the use of professional engineers in all our infrastructural projects. I appeal to all stakeholders both in public and private sectors to consider and make it a requirement for increased engagement of professional engineers in all critical areas,” he said.
Institution of Engineers of Kenya president Erick Ohaga said they are committed to bridging the gap in the sector to ensure compliance and competency of engineers
EBK and IEK said they hope to increase the number of registered engineering professional to 10,000 from the current 3,000.
“We are looking for ways to ensure that work that should be done by engineers is only done by engineers. It’s a multi-sectoral approach for EBK we have been given some funding for engineering graduate programme,” said Ohaga.
Further, the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) recommended the formation of an Advisory Council to advise the President on all matters of engineering.
This was one of the declarations at the launch that was themed 'Engineering a new world.' They signify a mandate, a call to action for all engineers to work together, innovate, and create a sustainable future.
Themed “Engineering a New World”, the will be held in from November 14 to 17, and brings together over 4,000 local and international delegates.