Underfunded EBK risks construction oversight, engineers

Kenya’s engineers have warned that reduced government funding to the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) could weaken regulation of the construction industry and undermine professional standards, with potentially serious consequences for public safety and the economy.

The Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) is calling for the restoration of adequate state funding to the regulator, arguing that inspection, licensing and enforcement of engineering standards are public functions that cannot be effectively performed by an underfunded institution.

Newly elected IEK president Harrison Keter said the Government must continue supporting EBK, particularly as the construction sector faces persistent concerns over unqualified contractors and misuse of engineers’ credentials.

“The Engineers Board of Kenya is one of the bodies whose funding support from government was drastically reduced, after it was named among state agencies declassified as parastatals,” Keter said.

He warned that inadequate oversight could worsen cases in which engineers’ names and licences are attached to projects without the professionals being involved in actual construction. Such practices, he said, expose both the public and registered engineers to significant risks when projects fail.

The warning comes amid concerns over building collapses and infrastructure failures that have resulted in deaths and destruction of property. Keter said the economic impact extends beyond the immediate losses suffered by developers and contractors, affecting communities and public resources.

Speaking after the IEK annual general meeting, Keter called for stronger enforcement throughout the entire project cycle, from planning and design to construction, commissioning and handover.

He proposed greater use of technology to monitor engineers’ licences and participation in projects.

Under the proposed system, engineers would receive alerts whenever their licences are listed on a project, enabling them to flag cases where their credentials have been used without their knowledge.

Keter said unemployment among engineers could also be contributing to the problem, with some professionals potentially accepting payments to have their names attached to projects despite not participating in the work.

Kenyan universities produce about 3,000 graduate engineers annually, but only a fraction are absorbed into structured graduate training programmes.

Keter urged the Government to establish a three-year training programme to provide graduates with practical industry experience.

“We call on the government to increase the involvement of local engineers and consultants in major infrastructure projects. This would help build domestic technical capacity while creating employment,” he said.

IEK also wants dedicated financing for local engineering firms and consultants, particularly through the proposed National Infrastructure Fund.

Keter said infrastructure planning should include long-term operations and maintenance, warning that poorly maintained facilities can deteriorate within a few years and become costly to rehabilitate.

He urged developers and the public to engage qualified professionals when undertaking construction projects, emphasising that safety must remain the industry’s overriding priority.

“Safety begins with you. Engineering is about safety. Our design should reflect safety,” Keter said.