NAIROBI, Kenya – The Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) has confirmed that engineers in Kenya will now be able to work across East Africa without the need for further training or re-certification.
This move follows the successful operationalization of the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), signed by Kenya and four other East African Community (EAC) partner states, enabling engineers to practice seamlessly across the region.
Speaking at the launch of the 2025 Engineering Convention, EBK Chairman Eng. Erastus Mwongera explained that Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and South Sudan are now fully integrated into the MRA framework, which streamlines the process for engineers to move across borders.
Under this agreement, engineers registered in one country can easily practice in another by simply presenting an introduction letter from their home country’s registrar.
“This initiative will simplify labor mobility for engineers in East Africa, making it easier for them to access job opportunities in the region without having to go through redundant processes,” Mwongera said.
Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Somalia are also under mentorship to join the MRA framework, which will further strengthen professional integration across the continent.
Kenya’s leadership in this initiative aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions unrestricted movement for professionals across Africa by 2030.
Mwongera shared that Kenya is taking steps to extend this model beyond East Africa, with a task force currently working on strategies to uphold mutual standards and certification procedures across the continent.
As part of its continued push for international recognition, Kenya is also working towards securing membership in the Washington Accord, a global accreditation system for engineering degrees.
This would elevate Kenyan engineers to a global stage, enhancing the competitiveness and exportability of Kenya’s engineering services.
This move comes at a time when Kenya’s engineering sector is rapidly evolving.
Over 27,000 engineers are listed on the International Engineering Register, with 4,000 recognized as professional engineers.
However, the country faces a shortfall of 6,000 engineers to meet the UNESCO-recommended threshold for its level of development.
At the 2025 Engineering Convention, which is expected to bring together over 1,000 delegates, discussions will focus on the role of engineers in the digital age, including the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and digital transformation in the sector.
The theme, “Engineering and the Digital World,” will explore how engineers can harness emerging technologies to drive growth in sectors such as cybersecurity, smart infrastructure, and AI.
With Kenya positioning itself as a leader in Africa’s digital economy, the growing role of engineers in sectors such as transport, energy, and telecommunications remains crucial.
According to Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, engineers have already helped place Kenya at the forefront of mobile and internet penetration in Africa, with Kenya ranking highly in the 2022 Inclusive Internet Index.
The government’s focus on expanding the digital economy is reflected in the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which prioritizes digital infrastructure and innovation-driven entrepreneurship, creating new opportunities for Kenyan engineers to lead the continent’s economic transformation.
“As we look towards the future, engineering will be critical in achieving inclusive, sustainable development, not just in Kenya but across the African continent,” Chirchir said.
