KeSEBAE: 5th Annual International Conference

The Faculty of Engineering co-hosted the Kenya Society of Environmental, Biological and Agricultural Engineers -KeSEBAE, Annual Conference on Wednesday 7th to Friday 9th December 2022. The theme of the conference was “Engineering a Sustainable World.” Our staff and students are registered members of this society and are actively involved in research projects and KeSEBAE activities. The hybrid international conference attracted about 400 participants.

Mr. Phillip Kello Harsama, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Crop Development, officiated at the Conference's opening ceremony. PS Harsama's speech highlighted the Ministry's short-term and long-term interventions on food security and nutrition, as well as climate change, to assist farmers. PS Harsama also stated the critical role engineers play in society, stating that "engineers provide progressive and sustainable engineering solutions to the ever-changing needs and demands of citizens." He concluded his remarks with a passionate appeal to engineers to conduct additional research and develop appropriate climate-smart engineering innovations and technologies that will help the country achieve increased agricultural productivity.

The Dean, Prof.  Ayub Gitau welcomed the guests to the University and outlined the various strategies the faculty is implementing to link student engineers with the industry saying, “we have invited student engineers from the University of Nairobi, Egerton University, Technical University of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta University and the University of Eldoret. Our students will present their research papers and also learn from expert engineers.”

Prof. Duncan O. Mbuge, Chairman of the Department of Environmental and Biosystems Engineering, expressed his pleasure at co-hosting the annual conference, which will provide a platform for students and expert engineers to share knowledge and exchange ideas that will inform policy and strategies for a sustainable future.

Engineers (Professional Consulting Engineers; Professional Engineers; Graduate Engineers and Student Engineers) and stakeholders from Kenya, the United States of America, Nigeria, and Ghana, among others, attended the Conference. Aboud Moeva, Irrigation Secretary; Eng. Erastus Mwongera, Chairperson of the Engineering Board of Kenya (EBK); Eng. Patrick Wambulwa, Chairman of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Kenya (ACEK), were also present.

The conference was divided into eight (8) technical sessions, with thirty-two (32) papers presented in total. The papers will appear in the upcoming issue of the KeSEBAE Journal.