IEK AGM: Overcoming a year of challenges

Last Updated 9 years ago by Kenya Engineer

The Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) Annual General Meeting (AGM) for 2017 was held on the second day of the 24th Engineers International Conference. The meeting was officiated by the IEK president Eng. M. E Okonji. He read through the last minutes that had been shared with the members before electronically. The minutes were proposed by Eng. Odumbe and seconded by Eng. Julius Riungu.
Some of the maters arising from the last minutes included the criteria for appointing IEK members into different government bodies. It was noted that a criterion had been discussed and adopted in past AGMs for nominating IEK members to different government bodies and parastatals. The treasurer also presented the budget for the institution for the current year.
The issue of Accreditation came up. Members were informed that this issue is currently being handled by the courts of law. As such it would be prejudicial to tackle it. EBK and other professional bodies had gone to the courts seeking clarification on the implementation of the new Commission for University Education Act. As a result of this court case, the section of the Act that stops professional bodies from accrediting university courses was suspended until the case is determined.
The Engineers regulations are also under legal scrutiny after being drafted by the Engineers Board of Kenya.

The Presidents’ report
After the maters arising, the next agenda of the AGM was the presidents’ report. The president observed that some of the maters arising would be tackled in his report which would highlight all the major activities of the institution in the period 2016-2017, being the first year of his term.
The president, Eng. Michael Okonji, observed that his first year was marred by court cases and a resistance from past office holders to hand over the instruments of management to new office bearers. For example, the signatories for the institutions’ accounts he said, had to be compelled through a lawyer to pass on the responsibilities to the new office bearers. The President noted that the activities of the council were hampered by the hardship encountered after the old signatories became reluctant to hand over immediately as the official signatories of IEK accounts. The handing over had in the past taken place during the AGM. The old office holders who were present in the AGM provided explanations for their actions to the members.
The cases plaguing the Institution and the council included: Constitutional petition no 182 of 2016 filled by Eng. James Mwangi and Eng. Henry Ndungah; Constitutional petition number 166 of 2016 filled by Isaiah Ondiba Bitange and Constitutional petition number 224 of 2016 filled by Eng. Steven Nyakondo and Eng. Hilary Njaaga. IEK engaged the services of a lawyer which saw the cases dismissed with costs on 2nd March 2017. The petitioners have since appealed the ruling. The President, however, noted that the cost of these cases to the institution has been high to the tune of 4 million and counting, since the cases were not yet over. He appealed to members to embrace alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
The President also noted the resignation of the Executive officer Ms. Caroline Mutui. She had refused to perform her duties and swear an affidavit on behalf of the institution. Her actions made the activities of the council difficult especially with respect to dispensing with the court cases. The president also reported that Eng. S. Omondi who was duly elected as the Honorary Secretary in the last AGM had resigned having missed several council meetings. He was replaced by Eng. S Charagu as per the provisions of the IEK constitution.
The president observed that even with the cases the council managed to have many achievements in its first year of the two-year term. They processed 851 applications to join the institution. Of these 341 were accepted as student members, 309 were admitted to the class of graduate members, 97 became corporate members and 3 became fellows. For the first time in its history, the institution gave certificates to those admitted as graduate members.
In his report, the President enumerated the good work accomplished by the Women Engineers Chapter under the leadership of Eng. Emelder Anyango Odhiambo. They held many successful events during the year geared at increasing women numbers and participation in the institution.
The Institution organized 2 Professional Interview Preparation (PIP) seminars with the assistance of Eng. Julius Riungu where many graduate members who intend to pursue professional interviews and become corporate members benefited.
The President noted that the IEK website had also been revamped and the functionalities improved to better serve members. A portal has been incorporated where members are encouraged to create their profile and air their ideas or issues. It is viewed as one of the ways members can use to increase their interaction with the council. Lastly, the President noted that Eng. Riungu had taken over the mantle at the Federation of Africa Engineering Organization.
Reacting to the President’s speech Eng. Mutonyi a past IEK chairman urged the members that before resorting to the courts, they should first explore internal and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. In the AGM members of the institution were also urged to use emerging platforms and social media responsibly and cultivate a positive image of engineering in the country.
There was a resolution that the next and future IEK Elections be held electronically and that IEK should convene a Special General Meeting in October 2017 to update members on the progress on its preparations toward this resolution.