NAIVASHA, Kenya – Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno, has sounded the alarm over persistent gender disparities in Kenya’s engineering sector, urging for bold reforms to promote inclusion and equity.
Speaking during the virtual closing of the inaugural Women Engineers’ Convention in Naivasha, PS Ng’eno said the underrepresentation of women in engineering threatens to undermine the country’s development ambitions.
“With over 22,000 registered engineers in Kenya, only about 3,500 are women, just 20pc. And of these, only 10pc hold leadership roles,” he noted.
“This is deeply concerning and signals a missed opportunity in our push for innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth.”
Organized under the theme “Engineering Excellence in Service Delivery,” the two-day convention brought together female engineers from across the country to spotlight their contributions, discuss structural barriers, and chart pathways toward greater participation in the profession.
Ng’eno emphasized that engineering is central to Kenya’s economic and climate goals, particularly in infrastructure, renewable energy, and climate resilience.
“To deliver on Vision 2030, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the Paris Agreement, we must unlock the full potential of our engineering workforce—especially in conservation and climate-proof infrastructure,” he said.
The PS commended the gathering as more than a symbolic gesture, calling it a “platform to confront the root causes of inequality in the sector.”
He challenged participants to carry forward the momentum through mentorship, organizational leadership, and advocacy for gender-responsive policy reforms.
“Diversity is not just a good idea—it’s a competitive advantage,” Ng’eno said, citing research that shows organizations with higher gender diversity are up to 25pc more innovative.
The convention was convened by the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) as part of efforts to spotlight women’s voices in a traditionally male-dominated field and to position them as central to solving 21st-century challenges.
