The Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) has begun digitizing the registration of all engineering projects in a move aimed at strengthening professionalism and improving oversight in the industry.
EBK Chief Executive Officer Eng. Margaret Ogai said the Board has launched a new platform, the Engineers Project Registration Portal, which requires engineers to register their projects and obtain a unique identification number before submitting drawings to county authorities.
Ogai added that the Board has signed memoranda of understanding with the National Construction Authority (NCA) and the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors (BORAQS) to enhance coordination and ensure engineering works across the country are properly designed and supervised.
“We have a collaboration with NCA and BORAQS. We have an MOU, and we are trying to exchange information so that we can know if this building [is] properly designed and then properly supervised,” she said.
The CEO spoke in Nairobi during the Association of Consulting Engineers of Kenya (ACEK) Annual Dinner, held under the theme “Celebrating Engineers’ Contributions through Memoirs and Publications.”
She warned that many private developers are failing to adhere to established standards, noting that shortcuts in design and construction were contributing to structural failures.
“As a private developer, everybody wants to put up their house, a small building, or a flat. That is where all the issues start arising. They might not employ a registered engineer to do the design for them. Again, when they go to the counties, sometimes they do not get approval done by an engineer,” Ogai said.
She added that a large number of private developments lack approvals and valid permits from the NCA.
ACEK President Eng. Jane Mutulili, who also addressed the gathering, stressed the importance of engaging qualified consultants in the planning and design of infrastructure, including roads, buildings, and water systems.
“We stand for excellence. We do our designs, and our designs show. If your design is being done by a consulting engineer, you are actually safe, and that is what we stand for,” Mutulili said.
She reiterated ACEK’s commitment to promoting designs that prioritize safety, resilience, and long-term durability, and affirmed the association’s support for the government’s affordable housing programme.
ACEK Future Leaders Chairperson Mike Jomo highlighted ongoing mentorship programmes targeting students in universities, secondary schools, and primary schools, encouraging them to pursue studies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
He added that ACEK Future Leaders is also offering training to young engineers to help them sharpen their competencies and prepare for careers in the engineering profession.
