Government eyes technology-driven oversight to close gaps in Kenya's engineering sector

Principal Secretary in the State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy John Tanui said technology could help address gaps in project supervision, particularly where the number of developments exceeds the available professional workforce and institutional capacity.

Tanui said the government was working with the engineering fraternity and other industry stakeholders to identify technological solutions that could improve engineering practice and support sustainable development.

"We are very excited to have the theme of intelligent systems for accelerated and sustainable growth," Tanui said during the launch of the 33rd IEK International Convention.

He said the government intended to bring different players into a common ecosystem to develop solutions that respond to existing industry gaps.

"This can be actually controlled with technology," Tanui added.

The proposed shift comes as Kenya's construction sector returns to growth, increasing demand for efficient project management, professional supervision and regulatory compliance.

According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the construction sector expanded by 6.8 per cent in 2025, recovering from a 0.7 per cent contraction in 2024.

The recovery was supported by increased civil works, including road construction and maintenance, alongside residential building activity. Cement consumption rose by 20.3 per cent to approximately 10.28 million tonnes in 2025, while commercial bank credit to construction enterprises increased to Ksh.646.5 billion.

The growth continued into 2026, with the sector expanding by 6.0 per cent in the second quarter, compared with 7.3 per cent during a similar period in 2025, according to KNBS.

Cement consumption increased by 11.1 per cent to approximately 2.69 million tonnes, while credit advanced to construction enterprises rose by 29.8 per cent to KSh210.8 billion as at June 2026.

The increased activity presents opportunities for technology providers, engineering consultancies and construction firms to develop digital systems that improve project planning, monitoring and accountability.

Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) President Harrison Keter said the challenge facing the industry was not necessarily the absence of legislation, but inadequate implementation of existing construction regulations.

He identified shortages of technical personnel at county governments and the National Construction Authority (NCA) as a major obstacle to effective supervision and enforcement.

Keter proposed that private consulting engineers be engaged to undertake peer reviews of building designs and supervise projects on behalf of county governments, helping to address staffing gaps and strengthen technical oversight.

He also questioned the practice of individual engineers handling more than 300 projects, arguing that regulators must establish whether professionals have sufficient staff and resources to undertake such assignments.

"There are enough laws governing buildings, governing construction and the way practice needs to happen in this country," he said, calling for greater collaboration among stakeholders to improve compliance.

Keter also proposed an External Building Audit Act to strengthen independent scrutiny of construction projects, arguing that developers should not view safety audits as unnecessary additional costs.

Principal Secretary in the State Department for Roads Joseph Mbugu said engineers and professional organisations must ensure that existing procedures are followed to prevent unsafe construction practices.

He urged professionals to strengthen oversight and ensure unqualified practitioners are not allowed to undertake or supervise construction works.

The need for stronger monitoring is reflected in the AAK Status of the Built Environment Report 2025, which found that the National Building Inspectorate audited 396 buildings in 2025, compared with 20,649 in 2024.

Of those inspected, 87 per cent failed to meet building standards or lacked the necessary approvals.

The report also recorded 13,348 suspension-of-work notices issued by the NCA during 2025, highlighting the importance of stronger compliance monitoring.

Technology could support the National Building Inspectorate's mandate through digital project records, electronic approval tracking, automated compliance monitoring and improved information sharing among county governments and national regulators.

However, technology investment will need to be accompanied by adequate funding, trained personnel and stronger coordination between national and county institutions.