Engineers protest joblessness, petition state for 10,000 posts

By Newsflash Repoter

The Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) has petitioned the government to urgently create at least 10,000 jobs for unemployed engineers, warning of a growing crisis in the profession.

Led by IEK President Eng. Shammah Kiteme, members of the institution staged a peaceful march in Nairobi on Wednesday, urging the state to prioritize local talent in national projects.

According to IEK, over half of Kenya’s qualified engineers remain jobless, despite the country investing heavily in infrastructure projects.

Local Engineers ‘Sidelined’ by Foreign Firms

In their petition, engineers accused some foreign contractors of sidelining Kenyan experts or hiring them under exploitative terms while reaping the benefits of multimillion-shilling government contracts.

The institution demanded strict enforcement of policies to guarantee fair participation and compensation of local engineers in all state projects.

“We have the skills, but our own government is bypassing us in favor of foreigners. Kenyan engineers must not be left to languish in unemployment while outsiders take charge of our national projects,” Eng. Kiteme said.

Sector-Based Job Proposals

The engineers outlined sector-specific job creation opportunities that could immediately absorb thousands of unemployed professionals.

Roads sector: 1,500 jobs if resident engineers are properly assigned.
Energy sector: 2,000 jobs if local firms are prioritized.
Affordable housing programme: 4,000 opportunities.
Water sector: 1,000 jobs through new projects.
Aviation: 500 roles via airport expansion works.
Agriculture, irrigation, and railways: 1,000 jobs.

Collectively, IEK estimates these measures could generate over 10,000 positions for engineers.

Call for Audit of Foreign Firms

IEK also called for an independent audit of foreign firms operating in the country to ensure they comply with local labor laws.

The institution demanded penalties for companies misusing professional licenses, underpaying Kenyan engineers, or dismissing them without due compensation.

“Kenya cannot achieve sustainable development by outsourcing expertise while neglecting its own professionals. We need structural reforms to protect engineers and guarantee fair labor practices,” the petition read.