Nairobi: The World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), in collaboration with the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK), the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK), and the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), has successfully launched the WFEO Engineering Capacity Building for Africa Programme (ECBAP) at the United Nations Complex in Nairobi. This milestone event marks a new era of engineering excellence aimed at strengthening Africa's engineering education, professional development, and infrastructure capacity.
According to Kenya News Agency, the event, themed 'Belt and Road Initiatives in Engineering Capacity Building: Innovative Infrastructure Solutions to Achieve SDGs through Smart Partnerships with CAST and African Engineering Organizations,' brought together global engineering leaders, policymakers, academia, and industry experts to forge solutions for Africa's engineering challenges. A key highlight was the Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing between CAST, IEK, and EBK to strengthen collaborations in engineering capacity development, skills enhancement, and research partnerships.
Another significant aspect was the Engineering Training and AI Development, where IEK committed to training over 100,000 engineers in Africa, focusing on emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and climate-resilient designs. The event also reinforced strategic partnerships aimed at enhancing Africa's engineering education, mobility of professionals, and technology transfer, while promoting regional centers of excellence for engineering training.
The Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport, Davis Chirchir, emphasized that this initiative aligns with Kenya's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and global aspirations such as AU Agenda 2063, the EAC Vision 2050, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He noted that Africa is at a crossroads where infrastructure, industrialization, and technology must be prioritized to unlock its full potential.
Chirchir stated that engineering remains the backbone of economic growth, highlighting that for Kenya to fully industrialize, the country must invest in skills development, innovation, and strategic partnerships. He pointed out that Kenya is strategically positioned as a regional transport hub and has undertaken massive infrastructure projects to modernize transportation, including the expansion of road networks, ports, rail, and aviation facilities.
In the maritime sector, the Cabinet Secretary revealed ongoing expansions at the Port of Mombasa and modernization efforts at Lamu Port and Kisumu Port to boost regional connectivity. Highlighting the impact of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), he noted its role in enhancing logistics efficiency between Mombasa and Nairobi.
Chirchir also acknowledged China's significant contributions to Kenya's development, citing major infrastructure investments including the SGR from Mombasa to Naivasha, the Nairobi Expressway, and the Lamu Port Project. However, he stressed the need for Africa to develop its engineering capacity to lead in infrastructure development and technological advancement.
Despite these achievements, Chirchir lamented the challenges in the engineering sector, including the low transition rate of engineers in Kenya, where only 4,000 registered engineers exist against an industry demand of at least 10,000 by 2027. He emphasized the government's commitment to bridging this gap through the ECBAP initiative, enhancing engineering education, simplifying the registration process, and strengthening continuous professional development programs.
Chirchir also pointed out Kenya's low level of industrialization, with over 60 percent of exports being raw agricultural and mineral commodities. He advocated for engineering-led industrialization to ensure the country processes and exports finished goods, boosting economic growth and improving trade balance.
The Cabinet Secretary highlighted the need for increased investment in research and innovation, noting that current investment levels are below the global standard. He called for enhanced funding for engineering research, stronger university-industry collaboration, and improved technology transfer programs.
Chirchir urged Kenya and Africa to work towards international recognition of their engineers, citing EBK's pursuit of provisional status of the Washington Accord by 2025. He also mentioned plans for establishing centers of excellence through EBK, including the Kenya School of Engineering (KSE) and the Kenya Academy of Engineering and Technology (KAET).
In conclusion, Chirchir reiterated the government's commitment to engineering excellence, emphasizing that Africa cannot afford to lag in industrialization and infrastructure growth. He affirmed that the ECBAP will bridge the engineering skills gap and ensure that African engineers lead the continent's transformation.
Eng. Shammah Kiteme, IEK President, reaffirmed IEK's commitment to driving engineering education and professional growth, emphasizing the transformative impact of the ECBAP initiative. Eng. Erastus Mwongera, EBK Chairman, stressed the importance of aligning Kenya's engineering education with international standards and securing global accreditation.
The ECBAP launch sets the stage for a decade-long initiative to train, mentor, and empower African engineers, ensuring that Africa's infrastructure development is led by its own professionals, in alignment with Agenda 2063, the AfCFTA implementation, and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).