Engineers back Infrastructure Fund, call for bigger role in Kenya's industrial growth

Engineers have welcomed the court's decision to uphold the National Infrastructure Fund, describing it as a key milestone in financing critical infrastructure, accelerating industrialisation and creating jobs.

Speaking on the future of the engineering profession, Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) First Vice President Eng. Harrison Keter said the Fund should be used to unlock local expertise, strengthen industries and deliver long-term economic value.

"The National Infrastructure Fund presents an opportunity to unlock local expertise and channel investments into projects that create jobs, strengthen industries and deliver long-term economic value," said Keter.

He argued that engineers should be represented in the Fund's governance and policy-making structures to ensure technical expertise guides project selection, implementation and oversight.

Keter said infrastructure projects should be judged not only by their completion but also by the employment opportunities they generate.

"The success of every major infrastructure project must be measured not just by its completion, but by how many permanent and fixed-term jobs it creates. Infrastructure must work for people by expanding opportunities and improving livelihoods," he said.

The engineers also proposed that part of the Fund be allocated to clear pending bills owed to contractors and consultants, saying this would improve liquidity in the construction sector, support businesses and safeguard jobs.

To strengthen the profession, they called for the creation of a dedicated capacity-building fund to help graduate engineers transition into professional practice and bridge industry skills gaps.

Keter urged engineers to embrace artificial intelligence, automation, robotics and digital technologies, saying the profession must adapt to remain globally competitive. He encouraged young engineers to take advantage of AI and digital skills programmes offered through the Open University of Kenya and Konza Technopolis.

He further called for greater reliance on local engineering expertise and manufacturing, warning that excessive dependence on imported technologies denies Kenya economic opportunities.

"A nation that imports most of its technology exports its opportunities. Kenya must empower local manufacturing, support homegrown innovation and trust its engineers to design, build and produce the solutions that drive our economy," he said.

The engineering fraternity also wants the government to increase local content requirements in infrastructure projects from the current 40 per cent to 60 per cent, arguing that greater local participation would create more jobs, strengthen domestic industries and retain more value within the Kenyan economy.

Keter said Kenya has the technical talent needed to compete globally but requires deliberate policies that promote innovation, strengthen local industry and place engineering expertise at the centre of national decision-making.