Law making in Kenya & role of Engineers

Last Updated 13 years ago by Kenya Engineer

Article by Clement Maiko

It is unfortunate that most a time many of our countrymen do not understand and probably do not know who an engineer is. This is not only within semiliterate persona, but also a majority of people. Worldwide, there are ’engineers’ who are not engineers. That is to say, people who hold the title of an engineer but are not. The writer has done some little research on the average mwananchi (citizen) to determine if he or she understands who an engineer is. 

Unfortunately, the majority especially in rural areas understand that an engineer is someone in dirty overalls and with spanners for vehicle repair. Today the title-engineer-is far much twisted to describe all manner of jobs. That is: sanitary engineer, procurement engineer, TV engineer (the guy who fixes DSTV) etc. The word engineer was derived from a Latin word ingeniare which means to invent or devise. Engineers are creative designers who invent, develop and manage the manufacture and development of their creation. Engineers are usually known for their questions of how and why.

By definition, Engineers are highly skilled persons whose mandate is to invent, design and supervise the creation of their designs. Engineering is the application of science to meet the needs of humanity which is accomplished through: knowledge, mathematics, and practical experience applied to the design of useful objects or processes. Essentially, engineers are the ones who are advancing humanity into digital life and an era of space flights.

For a long time, engineers have had little contribution in devising strategies that today drive most initiatives that take care of the world as a whole. Everybody can always see lawyers, economists, policy experts and environmentalists trying to get solutions into some problems; though engineering science and technology remains the centre of those solutions.

The question is: why have the engineers who are able to innovate and design such systems (that can easily bring solutions) been so quiet and sit back while impostors try to highjack their place?

What is being sort are the weaknesses and eventually, the cost of developing public policies and designing actions for reforms without the influence of those who are best suited to device solutions under engineering science and technology. 

The biggest problem of engineers (taken as second –hand and implementers rather than first stage innovators and designers) is that, there might be a cost spent on something but then the system ends up not delivering the expectations. I am of the opinion that the engineers be well financed to cater for research and development; such that even if one’s innovation does not work, this person should not be penalized as an engineer. A good example is the USA. The Bureau for reclamation was fully given to the US army and the annual budget for the military has always been the highest. Research has been on-going since pre-colonial era up to date. 

Hydropower technologies have been developed with time through the research undertaken by the engineers in this bureau. Kenya needs to follow suit and give a stable base for engineers to undertake research.

The reason why engineers are not known by many in this beloved country-Kenya is partly due to lack of involvement of engineers in public policy processes. A good example is our commissions in Kenya. How many commissions constituted in this country; whether in the energy or oil industry consists of engineers or at least one engineer? In most cases, the answer is none. It should be well drafted and made known that engineers have a very direct link in public policy-making process to protect the health, safety and welfare of humanity. Intermix of health and medical engineering should be at the front, to design chemotherapy machines without any side effects. Safety is a major concern in our country and the world as a whole. Actually, engineers should be used in our armed forces to do more research than Al-shabab does. 

The engineers must counter the rising insecurity through application of technology. A good example is to device a communication gadget that surpasses the mobile phones. By doing so, it will be easy to ambush criminals while cooperating with mobile service providers. It seems criminals know when they are being searched for and all the police whereabouts. If we need our safety improved, then we must use and compensate our engineers appropriately.

There is a misunderstanding that our engineering societies cannot lobby or have a peaceful demonstration to put appoint across. This misconception that engineers cannot hold political office or assist in political campaigns should change henceforth. For instance, how many engineers were elected in our last elections into office? The number is negligible and that will tell you a country that needs help in terms of technology advancement. In contrast, China has a pool of engineers whose mandate is to advice the President in technology advancement and what to do in order to reach the heights of developed countries. As engineers, we should neither take a back seat in the political life nor look at the public policy as a foe. In 430 B.C, Pericles observed and said, ‘just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics will not take interest in you’.

One main important issue for engineers is to understand the public policy; find out where to enter and assist our country to grow technologically. In many instances, such as the Kenya master plan for vision 2030: the master plan for energy in Kenya, master plan for solar and other renewable energy sources have been prepared by engineers; but when it comes to implementation, the engineers are kicked out and thus, the engineer gets discouraged after realizing that they cannot see their creation. Engineers hold few leadership positions and as such have a reduced voice in the house of decision makers on engineering issues including: energy, roads, water, health etc.

During the reign of Clinton as president of USA, Eng. Dr. Neal S. Lane, a special assistant to the president for science and technology policy, said, “Scientists and Engineers constitutes one of the largest, most valuable, yet least heard constituencies in America… My message to you today is that if you don’t take it as one of your professional responsibilities to inform your fellow citizens about the importance of the science and technology enterprise, then that public support, critical to sustaining it, isn’t going to be there.”

In Russia there is a small city called ‘Engineer’s City’ and is located in Dmitrov. In this city, the head of the district is an engineer; the mayor and his deputy who are responsible for the construction policy of the region are civil engineers. In fact, former Russian president Yeltzin was also an engineer.

In conclusion, let it be known that engineers can positively influence the policy process by clearly and publicly enunciating the role and potential of their research. In so doing, the common mwananchi, who may not be intimately familiar with basic research objectives, will feel comfortable knowing that his tax is well spent. One of the ways effective in accomplishing this is by: increasing finances to the engineering bodies such as- ERB and IEK and providing basic and advanced research facilities such as-the model test rig which can assist hydro engineers troubleshoot some problems thus making engineering real for all trained engineers.

Keep in mind, politicians struggle with an overwhelming number of decisions to make and they actually need sound and practical advice. As Engineers, we are responsible for that.

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