Today, let’s address a persistent misconception that has been weaponized for years by political detractors against Hon. Aisha Jumwa’s academic qualifications. Disturbingly, even a professional body like the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) seems to have fallen for this false narrative without conducting basic due diligence. A simple Google search would have been enough to confirm that Hon. Aisha Jumwa is more than qualified to provide the strategic leadership required at the helm of the Kenya Roads Board (KRB).
But let’s go a step further and ask the fundamental question: Does one need an engineering degree to be the Chairperson of the Kenya Roads Board?
The answer is a resounding NO.
Understanding the Role of a Chairperson
The role of a Board Chairperson is not an operational one. Unlike the technical experts in the secretariat who handle the day-to-day engineering and project implementation, a chairperson’s responsibility is to provide:
✅ Strategic Leadership – Guiding the board towards fulfilling its mandate.
✅ Governance and Oversight – Ensuring transparency, accountability, and adherence to regulations.
✅ Board Facilitation – Chairing board meetings and enabling constructive discussions.
✅ Performance Monitoring – Overseeing the board’s effectiveness and ensuring goals are met.
✅ Conflict Resolution – Mediating disputes and fostering collaboration within the board.
✅ Representation and Advocacy – Acting as the face of the board at official functions.
Clearly, none of these roles require an engineering degree. What they demand is leadership acumen, governance knowledge, and management expertise.
The highest level of leadership requires very little technical skills, as illustrated by “Katz’s Skills Needed at Different Managerial Levels.”
Aisha Jumwa’s Qualifications – The Right Fit for the Job
Those questioning Hon. Aisha Jumwa’s qualifications fail to recognize that she possesses:
📌 A Bachelor’s degree in Leadership and Management
📌 An Executive Diploma in Governance
📌 A Certificate in Governance
These are precisely the kind of qualifications necessary for a Board Chairperson, whose primary responsibility is strategic oversight rather than hands-on engineering work. It is baffling that some critics act as though a Roads Board Chairperson is supposed to design and construct highways personally. That is the role of professional engineers within the operational secretariat—not the board leadership.
IEK’s Double Standards – Why Target Only Civil Engineering?
IEK’s stance on this matter raises serious concerns about inconsistencies and selective application of standards. If the organization insists that only engineers should chair boards related to engineering sectors, why hasn’t it raised similar concerns in other institutions?
🚨 Why wasn’t this an issue when non-engineers chaired boards like KPLC, KenGen, or other engineering-related entities?
🚨 Why does this debate only seem to surface when it concerns the roads and civil engineering sector?
🚨 Why does IEK remain silent when other engineering disciplines like mechanical and electrical engineering are sidelined?
The bias towards civil and structural engineers over other engineering disciplines is an outdated mindset that even influenced the drafting of the National Building Code. The Code, shockingly, recognizes only civil/structural engineers while sidelining electrical and mechanical engineers, despite the crucial roles they play in infrastructure development. That’s why when you walk around most building construction sites, the only engineer listed as a consultant is the civil/structural engineer because the National Building Code recognizes this. Only knowledgeable and sophisticated developers engage mechanical/electrical engineers as an option. Could it be that this same bias is at play in the Kenya Roads Board controversy?
Stop Weaponizing Past Struggles – Hon. Aisha Jumwa Overcame the Odds
Another deeply troubling aspect of this debate is the malicious tendency of some Kenyans to use someone’s past struggles as a weapon against their current success. Hon. Aisha Jumwa’s journey was not an easy one, yet she rose above the challenges and attained her education. The initial hardships of her early life did not prevent her from pursuing her dreams, and they certainly do not disqualify her from leadership.
Why do some Kenyans find joy in tearing down individuals who have overcome obstacles to succeed? Instead of celebrating resilience, some seem intent on reducing leadership to elitist gatekeeping, where only those who fit a certain pedigree are deemed worthy.
Let Engineers Build Roads, Not Chair Meetings
To IEK and the detractors still insisting on an engineering degree for the position: Which section of the law mandates that a Kenya Roads Board Chairperson must be an engineer?
The role of qualified engineers is critical—but in the field, ensuring roads are well-constructed, safe, and durable. Their expertise is indispensable on the ground, not necessarily in boardroom chairmanship. Strategic leadership is a different discipline altogether, and it is precisely what Hon. Aisha Jumwa brings to the table.
Let’s move beyond misguided perceptions and political narratives and focus on competency, governance, and results. The country’s infrastructure future depends on strong leadership, not unnecessary bureaucratic gatekeeping.
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