A sharp rise in unqualified engineers is fuelling a crisis in Kenya's construction sector, with professional bodies linking the trend to recent building and infrastructure collapses.
Speaking during the first Women Engineers Convention held at Sawela Lodge in Naivasha, Institute of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) President Engineer Shammah Kiteme said the group had been sidelined in key policy decisions involving capital-intensive projects. "Currently, we have been locked out of the contract for the Rironi-Mau Summit expressway, just like other projects, despite the high potential in the country," noted Kiteme.
He observed that major contracts were routinely signed by senior government officials and foreign donors without input from local experts, warning that this practice was undermining safety and quality standards.
Odinga, who is also CEO of Spectre Limited, pointed to the surge in unlicensed professionals as a growing threat. "It's worrying that the country has one of the lowest numbers of women engineers, but this can be blamed on imports, which are killing employment opportunities," said Odinga.
