Kenya Engineer

Abstract Small-scale irrigation schemes play a vital role in enhancing food security, rural livelihoods, and climate resilience in Kenya. As rainfall patterns become increasingly unreliable, sustainable irrigation has become a necessity rather than an option. Mechanical engineering provides critical solutions in the design, operation and maintenance of irrigation systems, particularly for smallholder farmers and community-based schemes. This article examines key...

As Africa’s digital economy accelerates, the resilience of its industrial facilities, data centres and telecom networks has never been more critical. Yet engineers across the continent face a fundamentally different operating environment   from their counterparts in Europe or North America—one defined by grid instability, high ambient temperatures, water scarcity and evolving decarbonisation demands. In this exclusive Q&A, Wojtek Piorko, Managing...

Last year, I argued in my piece “Lean Carbon, Just Power”, that a limited and temporary increase in African carbon emissions is justified to meet the continent’s urgent electrification needs. That position was not a retreat from climate ambition. It laid out a credible lean-carbon pathway that reconciles power systems development realities with climate arithmetic. The central question remains: not whether...

Silas Santana, Engineering Services Manager - One AfricaAcross Africa’s industrial and mining sectors, reliability engineering is no longer just a maintenance function — it is a strategic lever for productivity, sustainability, and cost control. From harsh operating environments and unstable power supply to long spare-part lead times, African plants face unique reliability pressures that demand disciplined engineering and practical...

Global chemical manufacturer WACKER Chemie AG has announced an upcoming price increase across its silicone-based product portfolio, citing escalating costs driven by geopolitical tensions and supply chain instability. The adjustment, set to take effect on April 1, 2026, comes as ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to ripple through global energy and raw material markets, significantly impacting industrial production...

The Africa Energy Indaba 2026, held from 3–5 March in Cape Town, once again positioned itself as the continent’s premier platform for energy dialogue. Beyond the high-level engagements, however, this year’s discussions highlighted a more pressing reality: Africa is no longer constrained by a lack of vision, but by the pace of execution. At the centre of this shift was...

Kenya has taken a significant step toward transforming how it finances major development projects following the enactment of the National Infrastructure Fund (NIF) Act, 2026, signed into law by William Ruto. The legislation establishes a new financial framework designed to mobilise approximately KSh5 trillion over the next decade to fund strategic infrastructure projects across the country. The initiative represents a...

SKF South Africa’s innovatively engineered, remanufactured Stub Shaft and sealing solutions, installed on ash plant Submerged Scraper Conveyor (SSC) systems at two of the country’s power stations, have delivered five years of uninterrupted performance, operating without leaks or failures. This proven reliability underscores the robustness of SKF’s design and directly supports the plants’ three critical priorities: Enhanced operational efficiency,...

Belts are the heartbeat of a vast array of machinery, from compressors and conveyor systems to pumps and harvesters, providing the essential link that transfers power and drives motion, ensuring smooth operation and sustained productivity. “In a nutshell, when belts perform at their best, machinery runs seamlessly, production stays on track and reliability becomes the standard,” says Eddie Martens, Product...

Blending innovation with decades of engineering expertise, SKF South Africa recently delivered a comprehensive trunnion assembly replacement project that significantly improved the reliability and efficiency of a horizontal grinding mill for a major construction materials supplier in Johannesburg South. The intervention not only restored operational stability but also strengthened long-term sustainability and asset performance within the customer’s heavy industry and...