The Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) has called for improved pay, structured training, and the adoption of professional tools for graduate engineers working under the Affordable Housing Programme.
This came during a stakeholders’ forum on Wednesday, organised by the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development at the Kenya School of Government in Kabete.
The meeting brought together government officials and industry players to discuss the onboarding of graduate engineers and interns into the programme.
While addressing participants, IEK President Eng. Shammah Kiteme emphasised the need to strengthen opportunities for young engineers.
He urged that graduate engineers should be guaranteed at least three years of training under the programme to build their professional competence.
Kiteme also called for a significant pay rise for graduate engineers, stressing that fair compensation is vital for retention and productivity.
“Graduate engineers must be given three years of training through the programme. Further, we need to upgrade their pay from Sh25,000 to Sh70,000 per month,” he said.
The IEK President noted that better pay and training would not only motivate young engineers but also enable them to register as professional engineers after completing their internships.
He pointed out that onboarding more consortia would strengthen the programme and provide varied opportunities for learning.
Kiteme further urged that graduate engineers’ progress should be closely monitored to ensure effective skill development.
“We must make sure graduate engineers keep logbooks that are inspected by supervisors weekly to address any learning issues,” he explained. He also recommended rotation of graduate engineers across different sites to give them well-rounded exposure.
A central focus of the forum was the introduction of a Site Inspection Handbook in the Affordable Housing Programme.
Kiteme explained that the handbook would help interns master key aspects of site management, supervision, and quality control.
“The deployment of the site inspection handbook will ensure graduate interns learn all aspects of site management and quality control,” Kiteme said.
At the same time, the State Department of Housing and Urban Development announced its commitment to onboard at least 2,000 engineering professionals through the programme, with 7,000 graduate engineers expected to be absorbed in the near term.
Officials revealed that an overwhelming 43,000 applications had been received after the initial call for interns was advertised, underscoring the demand for opportunities in the sector.
Also in attendance was the IEK Honorary Secretary, Eng. Jacton Mwembe who joined other stakeholders in reaffirming the institution’s commitment to supporting young professionals in the engineering field.
