IEK is warning that inadequate oversight could worsen existing problems in the sector IEK president Harrison Keter /Jacktone Lawi Engineers are concerned that reduced state funding to the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) could weaken oversight of the construction sector and undermine professional standards.
The Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK), while calling for the reinstatement of funding to the regulator, said that its role in project inspection and standard enforcement is critical. Newly elected IEK president Harrison Keter said the government must continue supporting the regulator because enforcement of engineering standards is a public function with direct implications for safety and the economy “The Engineers Board of Kenya is one of the bodies whose funding support from government was drastically reduced, after it was named among state agencies declassified as parastatals,” said Keter.
The engineers are warning that inadequate oversight could worsen existing problems in the construction sector, including the use of unqualified contractors and cases where engineers’ credentials are allegedly used to secure projects without the professionals being involved during actual construction.
The warning comes amid concerns over building collapses and other infrastructure failures, which Keter said have resulted in loss of lives and destruction of property. He said such failures also carry wider economic costs beyond the immediate losses suffered by developers and contractors.
Keter said the government should restore the EBK to the category of state agencies receiving adequate public funding, arguing that regulation and enforcement of engineering standards cannot be left to an underfunded institution. He also proposed greater use of technology to track the use of engineers’ licences on construction projects.
According to Keter, some engineers whose names and licences appear on project documents are not present during construction, leaving them exposed when projects fail.