Women engineers called upon to lead Kenya's smart innovation and resilience agenda

During the opening of the Second Women Engineers Summit in Nakuru by the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK), women engineers were challenged to position themselves at the forefront of emerging technologies to ensure innovation remains people-centred

"Do not wait for conditions to change. Do not allow stereotypes to become ceilings. If someone tells you there is no place for women in engineering, just smile and build the future for yourself. Somewhere another girl is watching you, and your courage will become her confidence," said Mary Mwende, the Chief of Staff in the office of the First Lady, on behalf of First Lady Rachel Ruto.

"As Artificial Intelligence advances, as smart cities emerge, as robotics reshape industries and as data becomes the world's new currency, do not only ask, 'What can technology do for our profession?' Ask, 'What should technology do for society?' Because innovation without humanity is incomplete."

Mwende opined that Kenya's ambitions in affordable housing, food security, universal access to clean energy, digital transformation and climate resilience can only be realised through engineering excellence and innovation.

She therefore encouraged young women to reject stereotypes and boldly pursue engineering careers, insisting that engineering plays a cardinal role in everyday life yet often goes unnoticed unless systems fail.

On his part, IEK Caretaker Committee Chairperson Eng. Hillary Nyaanga said engineering remains central to Kenya's economic transformation and that the country cannot achieve its development ambitions without a competent and inclusive engineering workforce.

He noted that rapid urbanisation, climate change, digital transformation and artificial intelligence are reshaping the engineering profession, requiring engineers to combine technical excellence with innovation and ethical leadership.

"Our growing cities require well-planned transport, housing, water, sanitation, energy and digital systems. These outcomes will depend not only on investment but also on the quality of engineering judgement applied at every stage," he said.

"Inclusion is not separate from excellence. It is one of the conditions for excellence. When women engineers advance into leadership and influence major technical decisions, the profession gains capacity and the country gains better solutions."

He called on universities, regulators, government and industry to strengthen collaboration, professional development and research to prepare engineers for future challenges.

The summit, themed "Advancing Smart Intelligent Engineering Solutions for a Resilient Future," brought together engineers, policymakers, academia, industry leaders, development partners and students to discuss the role of engineering in accelerating Kenya's development while advancing gender inclusion within the profession.

Outgoing Chairperson of the IEK Women Engineers Committee, Eng. Jennifer Gache, said the summit continues to serve as a platform for mentorship, leadership development, innovation and professional networking for women engineers across Kenya.

She observed that despite progress over the last two decades, women continue to face structural, cultural and professional barriers that limit their advancement within the engineering profession.

According to the Engineers Board of Kenya, women account for only about 14 per cent of nearly 30,000 registered engineers, highlighting the urgent need for deliberate interventions to increase participation and leadership.

"Women engineers are not merely participants in engineering—we are innovators, leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers and nation builders," said Eng. Gache.

Eng. Gache added that the profession continues to grapple with low enrolment of women in STEM programmes, limited mentorship opportunities, workplace bias, leadership gaps and inadequate recognition of women's contributions.

"Engineers are only recognised when something goes wrong. If there is a nationwide blackout or the taps run dry, people ask where the engineers are. For women engineers, that recognition gap is even wider."

She appealed for stronger national partnerships to promote STEM education among girls, establish structured mentorship programmes, expand opportunities in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, and increase women's representation in leadership and decision-making positions.

The three-day summit will feature discussions on artificial intelligence, digital transformation, climate resilience, engineering leadership, entrepreneurship, emerging technologies, financial empowerment and the future of smart engineering in Kenya.