Calls grow for new EBK board after year without appointments

Questions are being raised about the continued absence of a fully constituted Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) more than a year after the previous board’s term ended.

Director at Beacon Africa Nashon Okowa asked how the regulatory body can function without a substantive board for over a year. He described the situation as a basic failure of governance that affects young engineers in particular.

Okowa argued that the sector needs fresh perspectives and called for long-serving members to be retired with appropriate packages so that new ideas can take root.

The previous board, led by Eng. Erastus Mwongera, completed its tenure in 2025. A farewell dinner marked the end of six years in office, during which the board reported growth in registration numbers, programme recognition and revenue.

Since then, the Engineers Board of Kenya has continued day-to-day operations under acting leadership. Eng. Grace Onyango has been serving as acting Registrar and Chief Executive Officer. The board’s official channels show ongoing activities including conferences, compliance work and registration processes.

Social media posts from engineering groups have pointed to the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport as the appointing authority and noted that new board members have not been named since August 2025.

In the LinkedIn discussion, some respondents argued that good governance depends more on systems, transparency and competence than on the age of officeholders. It has long been suggested that the board is being held back by the older generation's unwillingness to accommodate the younger generation. Others suggested that board appointments should involve a broader set of industry players rather than resting solely with the Cabinet Secretary.

Separately, the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) held its Annual General Meeting today 19 August 2026 at Daystar University in Nairobi. The agenda included formal handover to the incoming Council for the 2026-2028 term. Eng. Harrison Keter had earlier been elected President, alongside other council members who will steer the professional body for the next two years. The issue of the EBK board constitution has been discussed widely within IEK circles as the members are the direct victims of the lack of direction.

The Engineers Board of Kenya is the statutory body responsible for registering and regulating professional engineers and engineering firms in the country. A fully constituted board is required under the Engineers Act for key decision-making and oversight functions.

No official timeline for the appointment of new board members has been publicly announced.