Events

On the 14th December of 2022, the Engineering Students Association in partnership with Zutari Consulting Engineers organized a talk with student engineers from the University of Nairobi. The theme of the talk was centered around Impact Engineering and how to apply creative technologies in engineering design. We were graced by the presence of three consulting engineers from Zutari Consulting Engineers. Engineer Kelvin from the field of electrical engineering, Engineer Fred from the field of mechanical engineering and Engineer Michael from the field of civil engineering. One of the lecturers was also in attendance, Mr.Muthomi Munyua from the Civil and Construction Engineering Department and gave remarks in regards to the same. Engineer Kelvin did a well thought presentation on the journey to becoming an engineer. He went through the career progression of engineers and highlighted some of the common challenges engineers face in the field. He went ahead to clarify the role of the engineer on site and placed emphasis on the need for engineers to be ethical in their practice. Engineer Michael did an elaborate presentation on Engineering design and Construction Supervision. He took the student engineers through the entire engineering design process from idea conception to design construction and implementation. He also further elaborated the role of supervision of site activities by the engineer and the need to make sure that other stakeholders in the sector are responsible for the success of the project. Engineer Fred took the time to paint a whole new perspective on the use of technology in engineering. He pointed out that software such as AutoCad are quickly becoming obsolete and placed emphasis on Building Information Modelling which had the capability to take input from multiple disciplines and use the data collected to generate a three dimensional model of the project being undertaken. He also went through other newer technologies that are currently being employed to aid the engineer in his work.

ESA champions and facilitates activities geared towards making a positive impact on society. As the year’s end is fast approaching ESA thought it wise to give back by organizing a visit to a children’s home. We identified Ntimi Home of Hope, a children’s home in Umoja area of Nairobi, as the perfect home we could make a difference in. Ntimi Home of Hope is located in Umoja inner core, Tena estate. It houses 100 children, between the ages of 0 to 17, among them abandoned, orphaned and street children. Before it can house a child, Ntimi Home of Hope, in compliance with the laws of Kenya, conducts a reconnaissance to try and figure out the antecedents of a rescued child, in partnership with law enforcement officers. The information gathered is useful to them in coming up with the children’s exit strategies once they come of age. The children’s home relies on well-wishers for the running of its day-to-day activities and volunteers to help around in the baby sitting of the young ones and maintenance of cleanliness around the home. The younger kids go to different primary schools in the neighborhood from where they transit to various secondary schools around the country. Ntimi Home of hope boasts of four children in national schools, ten in extra county schools and five in county schools, which stands as a testimony of their great track record in academics. Of the setbacks they encounter, school fees and school uniform pose the greatest challenge to them. According to one Mr. George, who doubles up as the director of the home and the father of the children, the Home plans to invest in a school uniform production project targeting the schools the children are enrolled in, so as to secure a conducive learning environment for them, devoid of nuisances of unsettled expenses. To actualize this project, the home will need capital to buy sewing machines, badge makers and the different fabric. The Home is also looking to partner with an organization to provide financial patronage in a bid to ensure sustenance. The student engineers through the Engineering Students’ Association, paid Ntimi Home of Hope a visit on the 10th of December, 2022, where they donated in kind and in cash. The students spent the day with the kids, engaging them in fun activities, doing their laundry and preparing a meal which they partook of as they interacted with them. The kids formed bonds with the students, whom as ESA we believe will be great mentors to them and the hands they need to hold as they navigate their journeys. It was heart-warming to see the joy written all over the kids’ faces.

The Engineering Students Association is a students’ body within the Faculty of Engineering mandated to facilitate the holistic development of engineering students. On Sunday the 20th of November 2022, 8 students from the university travelled to Mombasa by SGR at 8.00am then to Diani at 2.30pm to attended the 29th IEK annual convention themed, “ Sustainable Engineering in the Era of Climate Change” . The students include: • Churchill Ouma • Linda Lichuma • Shantel Waititu • Sairin Lupia • Brian Clendon • Alice Mwando • Munangwe Eugene • Vanessa Ojukwu The conference was held at Diani Reef Hotel for 4 days from Monday the 21st of November to Thursday the 24th. The convention turned out to be a great learning experience for all the students that attended. They were able to network in their various fields and learn the projectile engineering is currently on in regards to sustainability and climate change. On Monday the 21st , the first day of the convention, we were picked up from Kijani Cottages where we were staying and dropped off at Diani Reef Beach Hotel where we attended the 1st Future Leaders Summit at 8.00 am. Different engineers addressesd us on the importance of Ethics and leadership. We thereafter sat through different paper presentations on ethics which were presented. We also attended an expo showcasing the different innovations by the student engineers. The summit ended at around 6.00pm and we were picked up and dropped off at Kijani cottages. On Tuesday the 22nd we attended the Women and Men Engineering summit that commenced at 8 am. Talks on mental health and innovations from various male and female engineers took centre stage. The Women’s Engineering Summit was graced by Hon. Lilian Gogo, MP for Rangwe constituency. She emphasized the need to motivate both genders in a bid to revitalize the profession. Eng. Trudy Morgan, President of Instituition of Engineers Sierra Leone was also present and gave remarks on the same. In the men`s conference, gaps in the mentorship process was addressed. We thereafter went for lunch and subsequently had a brief meeting with the Dean faculty of Engineering, Eng. Prof.Ayub Gitau. The afternoon talk was filled with more presentations of various projects as well as a presentation by The Dean. The summit ended at 5pm, the driver picked us up and dropped us off at Kijani cottages. On Wednesday the 23rd of November, we attended a talk on Unlocking Africa’s Infrastructure Development and its importance by Eng. Reuben Kosgei, after which Eng. Jeniffer Gache took us through water for industrializations in the era of climate change, mainstreaming climate change in infrastructure development and the role of green financing and green economy by Dr. Habil Olaka. Eng. Christine Ogut also spoke to us on building resilient infrastructure. After lunch we continued with the talks on Sustainability such as role of Nuclear and renewable energy in combating climate change and Energy transition by Eng. Florah Kamanja and Eng. Daniel Njora. We then proceeded to the various exhibition stands and got insight into some of the projects that engineering firms are undertaking in regards to climate change. We also learnt about the various adaptation mechanisms adopted by various firms in the combat against climate change. The summit ended at 7pm and the driver picked us up and dropped us off at Kijani cottages. On Thursday the 24th we woke up early in order to catch our 8am train from Mombasa to Nairobi and travelled to our various places of residency after arriving at 2:11 pm at Syokimau and taking a train from there to Nairobi town. We would love to extend our sincere gratitude to the School and the Faculty of Engineering for supporting and sponsoring all of us as well as giving us the opportunity to attend such an informative convention. We also thank the Institution of Engineers of Kenya for honoring us with an invite and providing us with such an incredible learning platform. The students networked and made connections that we believe will enable them navigate the engineering profession.