IEK Backs Digital Shift to Fast-Track Infrastructure

The Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) has urged both national and county governments to fully digitise engineering approval processes in a bid to cut delays, improve transparency, and enhance efficiency in project delivery.

Speaking during an IEK side event at the ongoing Devolution Conference in Homa Bay, IEK President Eng. Shammah Kiteme said embracing digital platforms would eliminate long-standing bureaucratic bottlenecks that have slowed infrastructure development for years.

“This is not just about speed. Digitalisation will improve service delivery, strengthen governance, and foster better collaboration between national and county governments,” Kiteme said.

The session brought together ICT experts, policymakers, engineers, county leaders, and development partners to explore how technology can drive infrastructure growth.

The second IEK Vice President engineer Christine Ogut  highlighted lessons from digital transformation efforts, stressing the need for adequate budgeting, equitable access to online services, and robust measures.

He noted that most public service vehicles and commercial vehicles have already been onboarded onto inspection platforms, enabling real-time checks on tax compliance, insurance validity, and vehicle ownership details.

Ogut emphasised the importance of interagency linkages and data-sharing agreements to enable interoperability between county and national systems.

 “Whatever services you provide digitally, ensure they are integrated. This allows different government agencies to work seamlessly on one platform, with appropriate access levels,” he said.

He added that Kenya’s road infrastructure services are now linked to the national road database, enhancing efficiency in vehicle and road management.

However, he warned that counties must invest in redundancy, backup systems, and strong security frameworks to guard against downtime and cyber threats.

The IEK’s call comes amid growing recognition that technology-driven governance is key to accelerating Kenya’s infrastructure agenda.