Harrison Keter Takes Charge as New IEK Council Assumes Office

The Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) held its Annual General Meeting on 19 August 2026, with the central business of the day being the formal handover from the outgoing leadership to the newly elected council for the 2026-2028 term.

Before the outgoing president’s report, the caretaker committee presented its account of the period since the Special General Meeting of 21 May 2026. The nine-member committee, appointed after the earlier court-related delays, reported that it had faced significant resistance while trying to deliver its mandate.

In the report, chairman Eng. Hillary Nyanga told the meeting that the outgoing council president, Eng. Shammah Kiteme, had refused to hand over financial instruments and bank access. Standard Chartered Bank had also declined to recognise the caretaker committee despite a letter from the Registrar of Societies confirming its status.

Despite those obstacles, the caretaker team coordinated FIDIC training programmes, the second Women Engineers Summit, the AGERI scientific conference and planning for the next international convention. It also managed two court cases and oversaw the eventual elections on 3 August.

The report drew mixed reactions. Some members felt it had become too personal in its criticism of the outgoing president, while others insisted the difficulties needed to be placed on record for future reference.

Eng. Shammah Kiteme then delivered the 2024-2026 council report. In the report, he noted that membership rose from just over 12,000 to more than 14,500. A substantial portion of members, however, remain inactive in terms of subscription payments, a point that featured repeatedly in the discussions that followed.

The term steered by the outgoing council included the 10,000 Engineers Campaign, policy submissions to government, local and international collaborations, public statements on construction safety and building collapses, and the signing of 14 Memoranda of Understanding. The second IEK International Convention was held in September 2024 and a Site Inspection Handbook was produced jointly with the National Construction Authority (NCA) and the Council of Governors (CoG).

The Honorary Treasurer reported revenue of 238 million shillings in 2025 against expenditure of 225 million, producing a surplus of roughly 12 million. Convention income still accounted for 61 per cent of total revenue. Auditors Ronalds LLP gave a clean opinion but highlighted outstanding trade receivables of around 100 million shillings, a prior-year adjustment linked to revenue recognition, and the persistently low rate of subscription compliance.

Members spent considerable time on the problem of dormant members. Some argued the constitution should be applied to remove those who had not paid for more than two years. Others preferred a focus on improving the value of membership so that engineers would choose to remain active. Questions also arose about travel costs, calls for forensic audits and inconsistencies in the membership figures presented in different reports.

On the constitutional front, the meeting returned to the need for a new document to replace the 2015 constitution after the 2025 draft had been set aside in May. Members discussed and voted on timelines for the review process, agreeing that detailed constitutional work should proceed through a future Special General Meeting while the incoming council’s tenure runs until April 2028.

Electronic voting earlier in the month produced a clear outcome. Eng. Harrison Kiplimo Keter was elected president. Eng. Howard Ashihondo M’mayi was elected unopposed as first vice president, and Eng. John Robert Otieno Ogallo second vice president. Eng. Grace Muthoni Kagondu became honorary secretary and Eng. Annette Ingaiza Murambi honorary treasurer.

The ordinary council members elected were Eng. Yvonne Roberts, Eng. Damaris K. Oyaro, Eng. Dennis D. Barongo, Eng. Patrick O. Otuoma, Eng. Nashon O. Tambo and Eng. James K. Nyabuto. Eng. Yvonne Roberts received the highest number of votes among all candidates. A truly capable team.

The new council was sworn in during the meeting. Instruments of office were formally handed over and the session closed with a prayer.

Mjengo Hub wishes Eng. Harrison Keter and the entire incoming council every success in their new roles as they steer the Institution of Engineers of Kenya through the next two years.