The Kenya Engineering Technology Registration Board (KETRB) has rallied its members to take advantage of the ongoing government affordable housing projects across the country.
KETRB Chief Executive Officer Alice Mutai said their members can play a pivotal role in supporting the government's push for affordable houses.
Mutai underscored the significance of local production, encouraging members to embrace the opportunity to manufacture standardized components like doors and windows.
“These components, crucial for affordable housing projects, could be efficiently produced by local engineering technologists and technicians, saving costs and boosting the domestic economy,” she said.
She spoke during the last day of the three-day Kenya Engineering Technology Registration Board (KETRB) national conference in Mombasa.
Over the three-day conference, professionals from diverse sectors engaged in networking and knowledge-sharing sessions, equipping themselves to face the challenges inherent in projects crucial to the nation's development.
Mutai emphasized the board's commitment to ensuring quality in the work undertaken by its members, aligning with the government's standards for affordable housing.
With a current membership of just under 3,000, KETRB is targeting significant growth within the next three years to recruit over 100,000 more members.
Engineer Luka Kimeli, Secretary of Roads in the Ministry of Transport stressed the importance of practical learning and collaboration.
He said these professionals are the ones who will deliver tangible results in various sectors, including affordable housing, agriculture, value chain addition, and construction.
In addressing concerns about maintaining the quality of affordable housing projects, Kimeli proposed a stringent licensing system.
“This industry invites a lot of quacks, therefore, there is a need to ensure each one has a license. The government and county inspectors are moving around to check these projects' quality,” he said.
He urged all trained individuals to become members of KETRB, emphasizing that this step would act as a critical safeguard against unqualified practitioners entering the industry.
“We have been told over 100,000 people are practising out there, but less than 3,000 have been registered with KETRB,” he said.
KETRB chairperson Nicholas Tamoet said there have been quite some challenges in regulating the industry, but they are optimistic that the board will be able to ensure professionalism.
“One of our agenda is to ensure continuous re-tooling and training of our members to be at par with the fast-changing technological world,” he said.
