Kenya has taken a leading role in engineering capacity building for Africa with the launch of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations – Engineering Capacity Building for Africa Program.
The initiative, which aims to train over 100,000 engineers across the continent, was officially unveiled at Safari Park Hotel on Monday.
Speaking at the launch, Institution of Engineers of Kenya President Eng. Shammah Kiteme emphasized the crucial role engineers play in sustainable development. He noted that Africa requires local solutions to its unique challenges, making the program a game-changer.
Kenya’s economy heavily relies on sectors such as agriculture (21.8% of GDP), manufacturing 7.6%, construction 6.6%, transport and storage 13.6%, and information and communication 2.2%.
Engineers, Kiteme stressed, are at the forefront of these industries and must keep up with evolving technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things .
“With the world changing rapidly, it was timely for the United Nations to declare 2024-2033 the International Decade for Science and Technology for Sustainable Development,” Kiteme said.
He further highlighted how engineers are central to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals including:
-Ending poverty (Goal 1)
– Enhancing sustainable agriculture (Goal 2)
– Innovations in healthcare (Goal 3)
– Providing clean water and sanitation (Goal 6)
– Developing modern, sustainable energy solutions (Goal 7)
– Building resilient infrastructure and promoting sustainable industrialization (Goal 9)
– Creating sustainable cities (Goal 11)
– Driving climate action (Goal 13)
“The sustainability of life on land and under water (Goals 14 and 15) depends largely on the innovations and solutions that engineers create,” Kiteme added.
A Vision for 100,000 Engineers
The WFEO-ECBAP program seeks to enhance Africa’s engineering expertise in emerging fields like AI, renewable energy, circular economy, nanotechnology, bioinformatics, and climate-resilient design. IEK is playing a major role in these efforts.
“Last week, IEK conducted training on Artificial Intelligence for engineers in water, energy, agriculture, and infrastructure. This experience strengthens our position as a key training center for the WFEO-ECBAP initiative,” Kiteme revealed.
IEK has committed to scaling up its training efforts to ensure that the program’s goal of training 100,000 engineers within a decade is met. Other courses offered by IEK include quantum engineering, autonomous systems, and soft skills training for engineers.
During the event, IEK also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chinese Society of Engineers. The agreement will facilitate knowledge sharing and professional development between Kenyan and Chinese engineers.
“This partnership aligns with Goal 17 of the SDGs on global partnerships for sustainable development. With China’s advanced engineering expertise, we have a lot to learn and share as we work towards a more sustainable world,” Kiteme stated.
The launch of WFEO-ECBAP marks a significant step in Africa’s journey toward self-reliance in engineering solutions. With a focus on cutting-edge technologies and local problem-solving, the initiative is expected to transform sectors such as energy, agriculture, water, and infrastructure across the continent.
