In a strategic step forward for engineering research and academic collaboration, Kenyatta University (KU) will host the 2025 African Journal of Engineering Research and Innovation (AJERI) Scientific Conference, organised by the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK). The prestigious event will take place on July 24th and 25th, 2025, under the theme “Engineering the World.”
The decision follows a high-level courtesy call made by an IEK delegation, led by Eng. Shammah Kiteme, President of IEK, and Prof. Eng. Larry Gumbe, Chair of the AJERI Editorial Board, on the KU Vice-Chancellor. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Eliud Njagi, Executive Dean of the Graduate School (in representation of) Prof. Caroline Thoruwa, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Outreach), who represented Prof. Waceke Wanjohi, Ag. Vice-Chancellor alongside key KU faculty, including Prof. Sauda Swaleh, Prof. Peter Kamau, and Dr. Jackline Nyerere.
This collaboration has been over four years in the making. In September 2023, IEK first visited KU to propose a partnership focused on engineering publication and capacity development. Since then, KU has seen tangible benefits: research publications featured in AJERI, increased mentorship for engineering students, enhanced internship and employment opportunities, and adjunct faculty appointments, among them Prof. Eng. Larry Gumbe, who also serves as an adjunct professor at KU.
IEK, established in 1945, is Kenya’s umbrella body for professional engineers, boasting over 13,000 members. With a core focus on advocacy, welfare, capacity development, and policy influence, the institution supports engineers from school to practice. Their journals feature peer reviewers from across Africa, offering high-level academic scrutiny and visibility.
The 2025 AJERI Conference will bring together engineers, scholars, and innovators from across the continent to explore engineering solutions that transform societies. The KU Amphitheatre will serve as the main plenary venue, with additional breakout rooms and exhibition spaces planned. A joint KU–IEK planning committee is already in the works to execute the event seamlessly.
“This partnership is more than a conference, it’s a long-term commitment to transform engineering education and innovation in Africa,” noted Prof. Njagi, confirming KU as the official host.
Further discussions included plans to formalise the partnership through an MoA, outlining possibly a 3–5 year roadmap. Dr. Jackline Nyerere also proposed establishing KU as an official partner of IEK, a move that would elevate both visibility and engagement for KU’s engineering programmes.
IEK’s past support for KU includes awarding an innovation in 2021, offering AI and practice-based training, and recommending capacity-building areas in teaching. As KU continues to encourage student publications as part of its graduation requirements, the AJERI platform becomes increasingly valuable.
From mentorship to publishing, internships to professorships, KU and IEK are shaping the future of engineering in Kenya and beyond. The collaboration is on!