The IEK Council

The IEK Council 2022-2024

Eng. Erick Ohaga, President

Eng. Erick Ohaga is the President of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK). He is currently the Director, Nuclear Energy and Infrastructure Development at Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA). 

He previously worked at the Kenya Power and Lighting (KPLC), rising through the ranks to County Business Manager. He has vast experience spanning over 17 years in Energy Policy Development, Nuclear Policy and Strategy Formulation, Design, Construction, Contract Management, Operations, Maintenance and Planning of Power Systems.  

Eng. Ohaga has extensive experience in Power Purchase Contracts Administration and Regional Power Trade. He has participated in the development of Kenya’s Standardized Power Purchase Agreements for Renewable Energy Sources under the Feed-in-Tariff Regime and developed the Kenya Distribution Master Plan 2015-2020.

He holds an MSc. Nuclear Engineering (KINGS), Master of Business Administration (MBA), BSc. in Electrical/Electronic Engineering and Post-Graduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management.

Eng. Ohaga is a Certified Coach/Mentor, and a Certified Personal Development Analyst (SA). He is a full member of Kenya Institute of Management (KIM).

Eng. Ohaga has also served the World Federation of Engineering Organization (WFEO) Committee on Engineering Innovative Technologies. He has Chaired the Membership Committee of IEK and is a ranking member of the Electrical and Electronics Engineering interviewing panel.

Eng. Grace Muthoni Kagondu, 1st Vice President 

Eng. Grace Muthoni Kagondu is the 1st Vice President, Institution of Engineers of Kenya. She has previously served as Chair of Capacity Building and Mentorship Committee and Vice Chair, Events Committee.

She presently works as Manager at the Research Department of the Central Bank of Kenya. Eng. Kagondu has a B.Sc. (Hons) in Civil Engineering and an MBA in Finance and Project Management both from the University of Nairobi.

She is a Registered Engineer with the Engineers Board of Kenya as a Structural Engineer and has extensive working experience as a Structural Engineer and Engineering Projects Manager in both private and public sector.

Eng. Grace Kagondu has vast experience in Facilities Management, Risk Management and Procurement Practice. She is a Fellow of the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) and a Member of the AAK Board of Trustees.

She has also served as an Executive Committee member of Association of Professional Societies of East Africa (APSEA) and is a past chair of the Engineers Chapter of AAK and past member of the AAK Governing Council.

She has also served on the Council of Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA). In 2018 she was awarded the Leaders & Legends Award for being a Legend in Leadership in the Built Environment.

Eng. Christine Ogut, 2nd Vice President

Eng. Christine Ogut is 2nd Vice President, Institution of Engineers of Kenya. She works as Deputy Director Safety Audits and Inspections at the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).  

She is an accomplished, result-driven Civil Engineer with over 30 years’ engineering work experience. Eng. Christine Ogut has served as Chief Officer Roads, Transport & Public Works as well as Chief Officer Environment, Energy & Water, Nairobi County Government. Eng. Ogut has also worked as Director, Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company and Manager (Roads) at Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA).   

As a past 1st President of Africa TechNet, she provided training opportunities for technical officers in Africa. She is a member of WFEO Standing Technical Committee on Environment. 

At IEK, she has served as the Chair of the Women Engineers Chapter, in the Governance Audit and Risk Committee, as member of Capacity Building and Mentorship Committee, member of Events and Conference Committee and as a leading mentor for graduates and women engineers.  

She is panelist for professional interviews (in Civil Engineering), an advocate for engineers’ welfare and a strong proponent of additional Continuous Professional Development (CPD) score areas, as well as a champion for Engineers’ rights (professional, employee & membership rights).   

Eng. Ogut is passionate about promoting Science, Technology and Mathematics Education (STEM) and engineering education in schools and universities. Her driving vision is Professional Excellence in Engineering. 

Eng. Shammah Kiteme, Honorary Secretary

Eng. Shammah Kiteme is the Honorary Secretary of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya. He is a Corporate Member of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya and registered as Professional Civil Engineer with the Engineers Board of Kenya. He is also a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)®. and the founder of CengProm Services Limited Civil Structural Engineers and Project Managers, where he is Principal Engineer and Director of Projects. 

He has over 10 years vast working experience in the engineering industry in Kenya.  

Eng. Kiteme holds a Master of Arts (MA) in Project Planning and Management (University of Nairobi) and Bsc. (Civil Engineering) from the University of Nairobi. 

Eng. Justus Otwani

Eng. Justus Otwani is the Honorary Treasurer of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK). Eng. Otwani is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya and a registered Civil Engineering Consulting Engineer, with over 24 years’ experience in design and construction supervision of urban and rural roads in Kenya and South Sudan. 

Eng. Otwani holds a BSc. (Civil Engineering) and a Master’s Degree in Project Planning and Management. He is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Transportation Planning at the University of Nairobi.  

He is past and current Chair of the Policy, Research and Advocacy Committee of IEK and a past Vice Chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Committee. He currently serves as a member of the Civil Engineering Professional Interviews panel and IEK Civil Engineering mentorship panel. 

Eng. Otwani is a Corporate Member of the Architectural Association of Kenya, Engineers Chapter, where he currently serves as the Chairperson.  

From 2015 to 2018, he served as a Director at the Rural Electrification Authority (now REREC). He was the Chairman of the Human Resource Committee of the Board, as well as a member of the Strategy and Project Implementation Committee. 

Eng. Dr. Elisha Akech Ochungo, Ordinary Council Member 

Eng. Dr. Elisha Akech Ochungo is an Ordinary IEK Council Member. He holds a Ph. D (UoN), MSc. (UoN), BSc. (JKUAT) and is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya and a Consulting Engineer registered with Engineers Board of Kenya. 

A Civil Engineer of more than two decades, Dr. Elisha is a Senior Lecturer at Multimedia University, where he is the Transportation Engineering Thematic Leader.  

In 2003, he founded GA Consultants Ltd, a civil engineering consultancy firm where he has been the Managing Director since. During the period 2015-2018, he served as a Board Member at Rural Electrification & Renewal Energy Commission (REREC).  

He has spent much of his working life as a Highway Engineer doing CAD Applications with Otieno Odongo & Partners, CAS Consultants, APEC Consortium, Runji & Partners, LEA Associates International (INDIAN) and Tertiary Consulting Engineers.  

His competency is in technology applications, being accomplished in AUTOCAD and associated highway engineering design software as a user since the year 2000. 

Presently, he has added the traffic flow microsimulation skills through use of PARAMICS and AnyLogic for vehicular and pedestrian movements respectively. In research, his focus is on sustainability analytics and climate change action under Climate Change & Sustainability Basics Association of Kenya in collaboration with Stanford University’s MAHB program. 

Eng. Lilian Mumbua Kilatya, Ordinary Council Member 

Eng. Lilian Mumbua Kilatya is an IEK Ordinary Council Member. She is a professional Civil Engineer, currently working for the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) as a Quality Assurance Officer.  

She previously worked for local civil engineering consultancy firms as a Civil/Structural Engineer and has seven years’ experience in Structural and Civil design, supervision of construction projects, concrete mix designs and quality control of construction materials and processes. 

 As the KEBS Civil Engineering Forum chairperson, she steers discussions revolving around registration of engineers and other interests. 

Eng. Jennifer Gache, Ordinary Council Member 

Eng. Jennifer Gache is an IEK Ordinary Council Member; a regional expert in Industrial Development and Energy Sectors. Eng. Gache works for GFA Consulting Group, subcontracted by GIZ to support implementation of the ‘Support to the East African Market-oriented and People Centred Integration Process- SEAMPEC’ in the East African Community (EAC) comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.  

She is passionate about increasing intra-EAC regional trade by promoting value addition, development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and engagement of private sector in the EAC. In her role, she supports the creation of enabling framework and opportunities for the manufacture and trade of safe and quality assured manufactured products.  

Eng. Gache has worked for the Kenya Bureau of Standards, Kenya Power and Lighting Company, Geothermal Development Company and the East African Community Secretariat (EAC). She holds a Bsc. (Hons) Mechanical Engineering from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) Operations Management and Research from the University of Nairobi. She is a Registered Engineer with the Engineers Board of Kenya and Corporate Member of the Engineers Board of Kenya

Eng. Florah Kamanja, Ordinary Council Member 

Eng. Florah Kamanja has over fifteen years of experience working in the Energy Sector. She is currently the Capital Planning & Energy Planning Manager in Business Development Department at KenGen. Eng. Florah has vast experience in Project appraisal, Project Management, Consultancy services supervision, Value for Money Analysis, Public Private Partnerships (PPP), Energy Resource Assessment, Energy Planning, Energy forecasting and Strategy formulation, hydropower and geothermal Power plants Maintenance and Operation. She is a member of the Least Cost Power Development Plan Committee in the Kenyan Energy Sector. 

Eng. Florah holds a MSc in Nuclear Engineering, BSc. In Mechanical Engineering and MBA in Finance Management, she holds a certificate in Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and solar PV installation. She is a council member and the chairperson women engineers committee at the Institution of Engineers of Kenya, a Professional Engineer with Engineers Board of Kenya.   

Eng. Paul Ochola, Ordinary Council Member 

Eng. Paul Ochola is an Ordinary Council Member and Fellow of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya. He is a Consulting Engineer with Engineers Board of Kenya. He holds an MSc. in Information Systems with specialization in Artificial Intelligence and Bsc. In Electrical and Electronics engineering, both from the University of Nairobi.  

Currently, he is the Senior Manager, Network Infrastructure at KCB Bank Kenya. Previously, he has served in the role of Power Systems Manager at the same Institution; Graduate Engineer in KPLC rising to the position of 3rd Assistant Engineer, IT & Telecoms; and Telecommunication’s Supervisor with the then Electro-Sigma Company Ltd.  

He has over 20 years’ experience in Telecommunications and Data Communications Infrastructure Evolution review, design, delivery and management. Eng. Ochola has industry experience in Technology migration from proprietary protocols to open systems inter-connect; contract administration; and project management.  

He has been involved in the deployment of various projects that have led to the consolidation, convergence, and virtualization of voice, video, data center and data infrastructure platforms.  

He is a member of KEPSA ICT Sector Board; current Chairperson of the IEK Legislation and Regulations Committee; current Vice Chairperson of the IEK Membership and Mentorship Committee; current Chairperson of IEK Mentorship Sub-Committee; previously served in IEK PRAC Committee; and former Chairperson of PRAC Telecommunications Sub-Committee. Eng. Ochola is Passionate about the mentoring of young career professionals, currently part of the mentorship team of the graduate engineers in electrical preparing for corporate admission at IEK. He is a Professional Interview Panellist member in the category of the Electrical and Telecommunications Engineering at EBK. 

His vision for the IEK is to see it grow into a globally recognized authoritative Institution of Engineering Professionals covering aspects of strengthening of devolved IEK Mashinani, capacity building, building strong and value generating partnerships and strengthening of the governance framework for the application of Engineering Science. 

Eng. Jeniffer Korir, , Ordinary Council Member 

Eng. Jennifer Korir is an Ordinary Council Member. She is a Corporate Member of IEK and a Civil Engineer (Civil Engineering, University of Nairobi, 2006). She is currently pursuing a post-graduate MSc. (Transportation Engineering, University of Nairobi) and boasts 16 years working experience. She currently works at Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), where she holds the position of Senior Engineer, Regional Urban Road Coordination, Nairobi.

She serves in the IEK Transportation Sub- Committee member, and in PRAC Committee as Secretary. She has actively participated in multiple reviews of policies and webinars organized by the Institution of Engineers of Kenya. She loves being an engineer and enjoys utilizing her skills and abilities to touch people’s lives. She believes she is a leader who can influence people to get things done in the right way.

Eng. Eric Ngage, IEK Western Branch Chairman

Eng. Eric Ngage is the IEK Western Branch Chairman. He is a Professional Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya. He holds a BSc. (Engineering Mechanical, University of Nairobi) and MSc. (Project Management, JKUAT). He is a Certified Practical Operations Manager (Yokohama Kenshu Centre, AOTS JAPAN). He is also an Internationally Certified Sugar Manufacturing expert (Robert Antoine Sugar Training Centre (Mauritius). 

He currently works as Director of Mechanical Engineering and Transport at the County Government of Kisumu. Eng. Ngage’s core competencies are in the area of Project Management, Strategic Planning, Installation & Commissioning, Machine Operations & Maintenance, Budgeting & Cost Optimization. 

He has served in numerous positions of responsibility in engineering, including as Chairman at the Institution of Engineers of Kenya, as Chairman of Infrastructure Committees in Boards of Management of Onjiko Boys and Ahero Girls High Schools, as well as Chairman of Engineering and Process Division, Kenya Society of Sugar cane Technologist and Committee Member, Process, Research and Marketing East Africa Society of Sugar Cane Technologists. 

Eng. Mwaka Mungatana, IEK Coast Branch Chairman 

Eng. Mwaka Mungatana is Chairman of Coast Branch of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya. He holds an MBA and Bsc. (Hons) Degree in Mechanical Engineering both from the University of Nairobi. 

Eng. Mungatana is a Professional Engineer and Corporate Member of the Iinstitution of Engineers of Kenya. He has vast experience in the field of Project management, Power Generation, Manufacturing and Corporate Management.  

He has served on the Board of Tana and Athi River Development Authority (TARDA), a Council Member of Kibabii University, and is the current Chairman of the Board of Garsen Technical &Vocational College. 

He is employed by Tsavo Power as the Chief Technical Engineer. He has previously worked with Kenya Power, Kenya Breweries & Kenya Pipeline. 

Eng. Abdulrazaq A. Ali, IEK North Eastern Branch Chairman 

Eng. Abdulrazaq A. Ali is IEK North Eastern Branch Chairman.  He holds a BSc. (Hons) Civil Engineering, University of Dar es Salaam and MSc (Irrigation Engineering) University of Leuven, Belgium.  

He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (FIEK) and a Lead Expert-in Environmental Impact Assessment/Audit, an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and a Licensed Water Engineer duly registered as a Consulting Engineer with Engineers Board of Kenya. 

He has previously served as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade where he developed trade and trade related policies including the National Trade Policy for Kenya. He also served as Chairman East African Community negotiation team for the EAC-EU economic partnership Agreement.  

He is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Africon Universal Consulting Ltd and a leading expert in Environmental Impact Assessment. As a CEO of Africon, he has served as a consultant with Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Trans-Boundary Water Resources Assessment and Treaty, Arid and Semi- Arid Lands Policy Review in Kenya, Review of Leather Products in Kenya.  

He has also worked as Managing Director, Ewaso Nyiro North Development Authority where he guided responsible, visionary and strategic leadership program; leading to effective and quality improvement of operations and sound management of financial and human resources. 

Eng. Hannah Njeri Kamau, Chair IEK Central Kenya Branch 

Eng. Hannah Njeri Kamau is the Chair, Central Kenya Branch of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya. She is a registered Professional Engineer with Engineers Board of Kenya and a Corporate member of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya 

She is currently the Head of Capital Projects at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology. Prior to this, she worked in the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Kenya as a WASH expert. She holds a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the University of Nairobi, is a continuing Master’s student in Water Resources Engineering at the University of Nairobi and a Post-Graduate Diploma I holder in Project Management (DeKUT). She has over 16 years’ experience as an Engineer in both Structural and Water Services Engineering.  

Eng. Harrison Keter - Chairman, IEK South Rift Branch 

Engineer Harrison Keter is the Chairman, South Rift Branch of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya. He previously served as the founding Branch Council member for IEK South Rift Branch. He is currently the Assistant Operations Manager, Geothermal at Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC. 

He is a Corporate Member of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) and registered Professional Engineer with the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK). He is also a professional member of Geothermal Association of Kenya (GAK) and Institution of Engineering Technicians and Technologists of Kenya (IET). 

Eng. Keter has extensive experience in the energy sector spanning over 17 years. His areas of expertise ranges from electromechanical engineering projects, project management with specialization in design, development, operation and maintenance of power plants and renewable energy technology, particularly in Geothermal, hydropower and solar energy technologies.

He holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering (UoN) and post graduate Diploma in Geothermal Technology and Utilization (UNUGTP). He is currently pursuing an MSc. in Energy.  

Eng. Damaris K. Oyaro - Chair, IEK Capital Branch 

Eng Damaris K. Oyaro is the Chair, Capital Branch of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya. She is a lecturer at the University of Nairobi Department of Civil and Construction Engineering.

Eng. Damaris has a B.Sc in Civil Engineering from the University of Nairobi and an M.Sc in Sanitary Engineering from Leibniz University of Hannover. She is a Corporate Member of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya, with over fifteen years’ experience. Her field of expertise is Water, Sanitation and Environmental Engineering. She is also the Chair of the Outreach Committee for the Institution of Engineers of Kenya.  

Eng. Kahoro Wachira, Co-opted Member

Eng. Kahoro Wachira is a Fellow of The Institution of Engineers of Kenya and a Registered Professional Engineer (PE) with the Engineers Board of Kenya. He holds a Post-Graduate Diploma (Energy Management) from the University of Nairobi and a BSc. (Electrical and Electronics Engineering) from the University of Nairobi.

Eng. Kahoro Wachira is currently the Chief Engineer Technical Services Department at Kenya Power and Lighting Plc.

He is affiliated to several associations including member of the Kenya National Committee of the IEC (KNIEC), member of the Africa Electrotechnical Standardization Commission (AFSEC) TC 57, a member of the Society of Professionals with Visual Disabilities (SOPVID) among others. 

Eng. Prof. Lawrence Gumbe, Co-opted Member

Eng. Prof. Lawrence Gumbe holds a Ph.D (Ohio State University, USA),  an M.Sc. degree (Cranfield University, UK) and a B.Sc. degree from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. He is a Registered Professional Consulting Engineer (CE) by the Engineers Board of Kenya.

He is a Lead Consultant with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), and is a Consultant and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Log Associates, a firm of Consulting Engineers, Economists, Environmentalists and Planners working in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa. He is a Chartered Environmentalist in the United Kingdom.  He was chairperson of the Centre for Multiparty Democracy- Kenya, CMD-K, in the period 2007 to 2012. During this period, he chaired many relevant meetings and negotiations, which resulted in important actions in the country.

He is a member of several learned societies including Fellow of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK), member of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Kenya (ACEK),member of  the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK), member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE),member of  the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Fellow of the Kenya Society of Environmental, Biological and Agricultural Engineers (KeSEBAE), member of the American Society of Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), member of  the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), member of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgE), UK, and Fellow of  the Kenya National Academy of Sciences (KNAS).

He currently serves as Chairman, Editorial Board of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK), where he spearheaded launch of the Engineering in Kenya magazine in 2021. He is also Editor of the Journal of Engineering in Agriculture and the Environment quarterly, owned by the KeSEBAE. The Journal publishes peer reviewed research and innovation articles. Its Editorial Board has eminent engineering professors from Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Nigeria, USA, UK and China.

Eng. Prof. Gumbe served as an academic member of staff at the University of Nairobi from 1981 to 2014. He was Chairman of Department of Agricultural Engineering of the University of Nairobi in 1998 to 2003 and Chairman of Department of Environmental and Biosystems Engineering 2003 to 2006. He is a member of the Kisumu City Board since 2018. He is fluent in English, Kiswahili, Dholuo, French and Lingala, and has basic knowledge of Arabic.

Eng. Nathaniel Matalanga, Immediate Past President(2020-2022)

Member of Institution of Engineers of Kenya, member of Architectural Association of Kenya –Engineers Chapter, member of Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers, member of Institution of Engineers Rwanda, registered Engineer – Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda, Executive Council Member of World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), Hon. Secretary of IEK 2015 - 2016 & 2018 - 2020, registrar at Architectural Association of Kenya – 2013-2017 and Chairman of Architectural Association of Kenya, Engineers Chapter – 2007-2013.

He has over 32 years’ experience in the structural and civil engineering design of buildings and surrounding infrastructure. He has hands-on experience in designing and implementing schemes in the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes Region (Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Somalia).