As the world celebrates World Engineering Day, engineering graduates have been urged to ensure they register with the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) to kick-start their careers.
IEK Central Kenya chairperson Hannah Njeri has said many graduates take too long to start their careers due to a lack of mentorship.
She noted that the institution has a membership of over 9,000 engineers who are willing to mentor graduates and integrate them into the profession.
Njeri said in the association, young engineers are also able to procure jobs and internships, and arbitration in case they face professional litigation.
“We also have a benevolent package for the welfare of members and for those willing to work outside the country. We can connect them to engineers working in their countries,” she said.
The chairperson was addressing engineering students who had attended World Engineering Day celebrations held at Maragua Dam in Murang’a, which was organized by Murang’a Water and Sanitation Company (Muwasco).
She said some engineers join the association too late, missing out on the array of benefits.
Njeri further challenged engineers to ensure they engage in activities that provide solutions to the day-to-day challenges facing Kenyans in tandem with their profession.
“The work of engineers is to provide solutions. Let them engage in programmes that resolve the issues being faced by the communities such as climate change even as they do their jobs”.
On his part, Muwasco’s managing director Daniel Ng’ang’a said he will partner with IEK and local universities to mentor young engineers to help them take over when they retire.
Ng’ang’a, a senior civil engineer, said it is the responsibility of senior engineers to mentor younger professionals to ensure there is no gap in the future.
“We will partner and start a strong mentorship programme that will help point young engineers in the right direction,” Ng’ang’a said.
The engineers, in partnership with residents, planted 2,000 tree seedlings on the banks of the Sh800 million dam that will provide 18 million litres of water to Maragua residents every day.
When the rain season starts later this month, Ng’ang’a said about 5,000 more seedlings will be distributed to farmers living near it and along the Maragua and Irati rivers that drain into the dam.
The company operates a nursery at its Kandundu sewerage treatment works that it uses to rehabilitate wetlands in its area of jurisdiction.
Muwasco took over the dam three weeks ago after President William Ruto made a decree that ended a four-year battle with Murang’a South Water and Sanitation Company (Muswasco).
Ng’ang’a also residents that plans are in the pipeline to ensure they are connected to the dam water after they complained that they are still forced to fetch water from rivers despite neighbouring the reservoir.
Gachocho senior chief Eliud Chege appealed to the company to consider fencing the dam saying local boys have been spending their holidays swimming in it, especially during dry seasons.
“This dam borders Gachocho, Yamugwe and Gathera villages and is far too wide and deep. We don’t want to see people jumping into it to commit suicide like with other dams."