Word from IEK President

Eng. Nathaniel Matalanga, CE, FIEK
President IEK

Fellow Engineers,

We are cognizant that the demographics of our members are changing, and we need to embrace diversity and inclusivity in all our operations. For the first time in IEK history, the gender barriers were broken during elections with 6 out of the 11 elected council members being women engineers. I congratulate all of you for standing up to be counted.

To improve the welfare of our members, we shall work closely with EBK to finalize the stake holder engagements that has already started and have the Engineers scale of fees gazette. This will enable value for money in engineering consultancy work as competition for provision of our services will be limited to technical proposal which is easier to judge.

In summary, we will enhance members welfare in the workplace, come up with engineering innovation towards protection from COVID-19 and make all of us proud members of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya.

We shall digitize our operations to improve on efficiency and services to members. One of the social media innovations which emerged during the campaigns was use of webinars to disseminate campaign messages. Going forward, we shall look at disseminating information using webinars to reduce the cost of our training. We shall also partner with various Government institutions to offer their facilities at subsidized rates to reduce the cost of training.

To enhance publicity and communications, the incoming team will develop a comprehensive communications strategy to include social media management (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and others).

We shall form expert thematic panels to enable the Institution to position itself and influence the nation’s policies on matters infrastructure and production and attain our right full place in the big 4 agenda.

On the global stage, we shall encourage our members to offer their expertise and services across our borders; the free movement of people on our continent is cornerstone of our Pan-African brotherhood. We shall pursue Mutual Recognition Agreements with other professional institutions, follow up signing of Washington Accord to enable our members get international recognition and open international opportunities.

We shall endeavor to influence global engineering practice by fully participating in regional and international engineering organizations.

In order to foster inclusivity of all engineering cadres, under my leadership, IEK will also initiate discussions between IEK and KETRB/ IET to bring all of us together and correct the mistake that was made in 2011. Further the council will promote IEK “Mashinani”. This growth will be driven by encouraging our members in “Mashinani” to go through the strategic plan and actualize all the branches that were envisaged.

My priority will also be to foster unity among all engineers from all backgrounds and offer leadership to rally around our vision “Engineering a sustainable world”. I pledge to deepen our collaborations and partnerships with our key stakeholders including Engineers Board of Kenya, Association of Consulting Engineers of Kenya, Chapter of Engineers of AAK and other professional associations including KEPSA. APSEA to help us push for our space.

The other priority will be to fully implement our strategic plan underpinned on five pillars namely

a. Membership: increasing membership to 20,000 in next 5 years

b. Relevance: Raise IEK visibility to influence infrastructure and industrial development of our country and the region

c. Expertise: Promote excellence in engineering for our members through the expert thematic panels.

d. Revenue growth to over Kshs 600million

e. Governance and Institutional strengthening by looking for international training and capacity building opportunities for our members.

Kenya is not an island. Therefore, it is paramount that IEK and our members actively participate in global affairs. In this regard, I promise as an Executive Council member of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations to use my position to champion for opportunities for the Kenyan Engineer. Further, I am pleased to inform you that Kenya is scheduled to take over the leadership of the Federation of African Engineering Organizations later in 2020. Eng. Collins Juma will be taking over from UIPE President Vincent Ochwo. We shall give Eng. Juma all the support to enable him to perform his duties as President EAFEO.

As I conclude, I would like to assure you once again that my council is ready to hit the ground running and pledge to give you the best service.

Fellow Engineers, we are living in unprecedented times and are therefore committed to embracing innovation as we strive to deliver services to our members and to Kenyans. To respond to COVID-19 pandemic, I am pleased to inform you that the council approved establishment of IEK Covid-19 Response Fund with a target collection of Kshs 10million. This is to respond to HE President Uhuru Kenyatta’s appeal to Kenyans of goodwill to help fight the spread of the corona virus in our country. I urge engineers to come up with engineering innovations as our additional contribution and support to the Government in the wake of COVID-19.

Finally, Distinguished Fellow Engineers, Ladies and Gentlemen, I ask all of you to give us support and to volunteer your time and expertise to build a strong IEK to serve both current and future generations of Kenyans. Together, we shall go far and make IEK our GREAT AND LOVING home.

ENG. NATHANIEL MATALANGA, CE, FIEK

PRESIDENT IEK 2020/2022

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