![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/d1abff95-9fec-4a6f-96a6-801ca837b0ca.jpeg\")
EACC David Oginde during an event in Nairobi\/COURTESY<\/p>\nEACC David Oginde during an event in Nairobi\/COURTESY<\/p>\n
Engineers have been
\nurged to take a firm stand against corruption, with leaders in the
\nprofession warning that unethical conduct poses a serious threat to
\nKenya\u2019s economic stability, infrastructure development and public
\ntrust.<\/p>\n
Ethics and
\nAnti-Corruption Commission (EACC) chairperson David Oginde cautioned
\nengineers against becoming conduits of graft.<\/p>\n
Speaking during the
\nInstitution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) annual gala dinner in
\nNairobi, Oginde likened corruption to termites that silently destroy
\na structure from within.
\n<\/p>\n
\u201cCorruption is
\nlike a termite. It does not attack a building from the outside; it
\neats it slowly from within. By the time you realise what is
\nhappening, the entire structure has collapsed,\u201d Oginde said.
\nAccording to Oginde, as professionals in the construction and
\ninfrastructure space, engineers must understand that integrity is not
\noptional.
\n<\/p>\n
He noted that
\ncorruption in infrastructure projects often results in inflated
\ncosts, substandard work, stalled developments and erosion of public
\nconfidence, adding that engineers bear a personal responsibility to
\nuphold ethical standards in their practice.<\/p>\n
\nIEK President Eng. Shammah Kiteme on his part said the annual gala dinner provided an opportunity
\nfor engineers to reflect on the year gone by as they prepare for the
\nchallenges ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo much has
\nhappened. Engineers have been involved in numerous projects across
\nthe country, from design and construction to maintenance of critical
\ninfrastructure,\u201d Kiteme said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe came together to celebrate
\nengineers and the role they continue to play in national
\ndevelopment.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the
\ninstitution has become increasingly vocal on policy advocacy,
\ngovernance and the future of infrastructure development in Kenya.<\/p>\n
While welcoming the
\ngovernment\u2019s ambitious development agenda, including plans to scale
\nup power generation from about 3,200 megawatts to 10,000 megawatts,
\nexpand transport and logistics networks, and strengthen human
\ncapital, Kiteme raised concern over what he termed the
\nmarginalisation of Kenyan engineers in major infrastructure projects.<\/p>\n
\u201cResearch has
\nshown that about 85 per cent of mega infrastructure projects in this
\ncountry are handled by foreign firms,\u201d he said.
\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has
\neffectively turned Kenyan engineers into spectators in projects being
\nimplemented in their own country.\u201d<\/p>\n
He noted that the
\ntrend persists despite Kenya being \u201cliterally a construction site,\u201d
\nwith multiple ongoing projects that could absorb thousands of local
\nprofessionals.<\/p>\n
Kiteme also
\ncalled for stronger self-regulation within the profession, saying
\nlapses in practice and oversight have contributed to quality and
\ngovernance challenges in the sector.<\/p>\n
\nHe further proposed
\nthe establishment of an infrastructure advisory office within the
\nOffice of the President, arguing that while infrastructure is central
\nto Kenya\u2019s development agenda, there is a gap in technical advisory
\ncapacity at the highest levels of decision-making.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is very
\naggressive and welcome focus on infrastructure from the Office of the
\nPresident,\u201d he said.
\n<\/p>\n
He warned that
\nappointing non-engineers to head institutions with fundamentally
\ntechnical mandates could have far-reaching consequences.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWith the right
\nexpertise and data-driven approaches, infrastructure decisions can be
\nmade far more effectively than what we are seeing today,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"EACC David Oginde during an event in Nairobi\/COURTESY Engineers have been
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