Engineering Politics: IEK Members Confirm May 21 SGM Venue Amid Election Dispute and Council Pushback

Members of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) seeking a Special General Meeting have confirmed that the session will proceed on May 21 at United Kenya Club in Nairobi following earlier uncertainty over the venue.

The meeting has emerged from ongoing disagreements within the institution after court orders suspended IEK elections that had been scheduled for March 23.

In a message circulated to members on May 19, engineer Howard M’mayi said the venue had been secured and preparations for the meeting were continuing.

“The SGM shall proceed on 21st May 2026 at United Kenya Club, Nairobi starting from 4 PM,” the communication stated.

Supporters of the requisitioned meeting argue that the Special General Meeting is the constitutionally recognised forum for discussing management and governance issues affecting the institution.

In another message circulated to members, M’mayi outlined four categories of meetings recognised under the IEK constitution: Ordinary General Meetings, Annual General Meetings, Special General Meetings dealing with management matters, and Special General Meetings for constitutional or by-law amendments.

The communication stated that binding resolutions can only be made through Annual General Meetings and Special General Meetings.

“For members who believe in dialogue towards resolving our internal management issues, SGM on 21st May is the appropriate forum,” the statement said.

Organisers have also indicated that attendance will be free for engineers across all membership categories, including graduate engineers.

The push for the meeting follows a period of uncertainty within the institution after the High Court suspended IEK elections following a petition filed by graduate engineer Sam Aberi. The petition challenged aspects of the electoral framework, arguing that graduate members were excluded from voting despite paying membership subscriptions.

According to an earlier report published by Mjengo Hub, members behind the SGM drive argued that the institution faced a leadership vacuum after the council’s term expired without elections being conducted.

However, the IEK Council’s position, as reflected in member discussions and objections raised around the SGM process, has centred on constitutional interpretation, procedural concerns and the scope of matters that can properly be discussed while court proceedings remain active.

Questions raised by some members included whether constitutional matters could be discussed while litigation over the elections was still before court, whether certain motions required constitutional amendment procedures instead of management provisions, and whether proposals such as caretaker arrangements would comply with the existing constitution.

Some members also proposed that discussions should remain limited to annual reports and financial matters pending court direction.

The dispute has therefore evolved into a broader debate over institutional procedure rather than a straightforward confrontation between members and council leadership.

IEK remains one of Kenya’s key professional bodies within the engineering sector, representing engineers involved in infrastructure, construction, energy, transport and industrial development. Internal governance disputes within the institution often attract industry attention because of IEK’s role in professional accreditation and policy engagement.

At Mjengo Hub, our hope is that the institution can move beyond the current disagreements through lawful, constructive engagement that preserves professional unity and public confidence in Kenya’s engineering sector.