SPEECH BY ENG. M.S.

M KAMAU, CBS, CABINET SECRETARY,

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE, DURING THE
LAUNCH

OF

THE

ENGINEERS

BOARD

OF

KENYA (EBK)

STRATEGIC PLAN AND LOGO ON 24th MARCH 2015 AT THE KICC,

NAIROBI

Fellow Engineers,
Invited Quests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
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I am delighted to join members of the engineering fraternity under the

umbrella of Engineers Board of Kenya and launch the Boards first
five- year Strategic Plan and to unveil its new logo.
The Government recognizes the critical role that professional
engineers and practitioners play in the development of the economy,
especially in infrastructure development. The profession is and will
remain crucial to the attainment of the Countrys development goals
as outlined in Kenya Vision 2030.

Indeed the impact of engineering practice cuts across all sectors of the
economy may it be transport, agriculture, manufacturing, energy,
construction, aviation just to mention but a few.
In this regard, engineering discipline like other professions must be
organized and coordinated for effective development and regulation
of the profession. This is because any discipline without a
professional body cannot claim professionalism and hence the
formation of organizations such as Engineers Board (EBK) of Kenya.

The Government recognizes the EBK as the legal institution with the
mandate to register, protect and advance the interests of engineers in
Kenya. With this recognition, the Government is therefore committed
to ensure that the country maintains world class standards in the
engineering practice.
The Engineers Board of Kenya was formed to spearhead the growth
of the profession and increase the capacity to meet the emerging
needs and evolving challenges.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The development of this first five-year EBK Strategic Plan is
therefore important as it provides a mechanism of identifying the
challenges facing engineering field and chart the way forward for the
profession.
I take note that the numbers of professional engineers is still way
below the acceptable levels for our development aspirations. With
professional engineers numbering 1,967 and a disproportionately high
number of graduate engineers, at approximately 8,900, the job is cut
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for the Board to provide ways of ensuring that graduate engineers

become professional engineers.
As you are aware, the Government is about to commence awarding
contracts for the first phase of Road 10000 Infrastructure
Development programme. The demand for qualified engineers in this
programme will be unprecedented. Urgent measures must be taken to
ensure that qualified and experienced engineers are available for
information development.

Further, the Government will support the Boards graduate engineers

internship programme to ensure that there is structured training of
graduate engineers to achieve professional status. EBK must ensure
such graduates acquire the necessary skills and competencies without
compromising engineering standards.
The success of the internship programme will depend on the
collaboration between the Board, the Private Sector and the
Government. We must therefore work together to make it possible for
young engineers to join the profession.
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The Government has also taken note of the Boards commitment to

addressing challenges in engineering education. All stakeholders must
work together for the greater good of the profession and our country.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Kenyan engineer must uphold professionalism by maintaining
and improving his or her skills and competencies. The Board should
therefore ensure that provisions in the Engineers Act 2011 relating to
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) are adhered to by all
members.
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The CPD should provide opportunities for sharing of knowledge as

well as motivate our engineers to embrace new technologies and
methodologies.
Finally Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Board must play its role as the custodian of the public interest in
matters pertaining to engineering practice. More specifically, the
Board must fully play its watchdog role by ensuring that all
professional services are only rendered by qualified engineers
licenced.
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I challenge the Board to take disciplinary measures against engineers

who are engaged in acts of professional malpractices. Engineers are
expected to abide by their code of ethics and uphold professional
integrity.
I wish the Board success as it implements the Strategic Plan and once
again reiterates the Governments support to the Board in achieving
the set objectives.

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With those remarks, it is now my pleasure to officially launch the

five-year Strategic Plan for the Engineers Board of Kenya and the
Boards new Logo.
Thank You

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