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1 KENYA ENGINEER - January/February 2014

Contents05.

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News.........................................................03

Feature...............................................15

Industrialization ............................................41

IEK ...............................................................44

Profile ..........................................................45

KENYA ENGINEER - January/February 2014 2

Cor respondence shou ld be addressed to the Institution. Kenya Engineer is published every two months. Views expressed in this Journal are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the Institution.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

A Definitive Publication of Engineers in East Africa & Beyond, since 1972

Copyright: Reproduction of any article in part or in full is strictly prohibited without written permission from the Institution of Engineers of Kenya.Disclaimer: To our readers, verify all the advertised courses with Engineers Board of Kenya.

Editorial Board:M Kashorda - ChairpersonN O Booker - Secretary J MutuliliF W Ngokonyo J N Kariuki S M Ngare A Muhalia A W Otsieno S K Kibe M Majiwa

Editorial Assistants:Peninah NjakweDaisy GakuuKevin Achola

Editors:Articulate Edits

Design & Layout:Daniel Wakaba Ndungu

Sales & Marketing:Joyce NdamaiyuPhylis MuthoniTeresa AtienoOliver Elman

Published by:

P O Box 45754-00100 NairobiTel: 4443649/50/72,Cell: 0719 207 712Fax: 4443650Email: [email protected]/[email protected]

Economist Nicholas Kaldor (1908-1986) proposed that economic growth and enhanced standards of living were positively correlated with a countrys national industrial activity. He suggested that growth in GDP was positively related to growth in a nations manufacturing sector. He also suggested that the productivity of the non-manufacturing sector was associated with growth in manufacturing.

The debate of whether it is feasible for an economy, as young as Kenyas, to grow and prosper without a manufacturing sector would be by large a one sided one. Further, even for advanced economies, it will become very difficult to sustain innovation

without a manufacturing sector.

The key to enhancing a countrys manufacturing industries is to address a number of minor and major issues simultaneously. These include; relevant industry based training and education and policy based issues that will increase investment in the sector by both the government and private sector players just to mention but a few.The first issue of the Kenya Engineer magazine in 2014 focuses on Manufacturing

and Industry. In dissecting this theme our writers focus-but not limit themselves- to the following subtitles;

1. Opportunities for Local Engineers in Modernization of Infrastructure2. Challenges to Industrialization and manufacturing in Kenya 3. Industrialization of counties and the vision 2030 4. Cementing Vision 20305. The Sugar industry in Kenya6. Bus body Building and Safety Concept in Kenya

This also happens to be my first issue as the chairman of the Editorial Board. I trust

you will enjoy the read and Im looking forward to your feedback.

M. Kashorda Chairman Editorial CommitteeNext issue will be out by 1st March, 2014

Editors Note


President Uhuru Kenyatta launched the Standard Gauge Railway line at Changamwe in November. In a move to show the commitment of Governments of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan to providing high capacity cost effective railway transport within the Northern Corridor. This will be achieved through the construction of the proposed Standard Gauge Railway connecting Mombasa to Malaba (with a branch line to Kisumu) onward to Kampala, Kigali (with branch line to Kasese) and Juba (with a branch line to Pakwach).

The Ra i lway l i ne w i l l have a uniform design specification which will permit seamless operation across the borders and in turn reduce costs. The railway development will include upgrading and modernisation of the Railway Training Institutes in Nairobi and Tororo to provide local manpower for the construction and operation of the railways.

Progress in KenyaThe Government of Kenya will develop Mombasa Malaba/Kisumu section in two phases: Phase 1 from Mombasa to Nairobi and Phase 2 from Nairobi to Malaba and Kisumu. Construction of phase 1 (Mombasa - Nairobi Section) will commence early 2014 while feasibility studies and preliminary design for phase 2 are in progress.

The Government of Kenya is in the process of consolidating funding for phase 1 (Mombasa to Nairobi section) and so far has made budgetary allocation in the 2013/14 budget as well as setting up a railway development fund to be financed by a levy on the cost of all imports. Cost of the project is estimated at 223.6 billion Kshs for infrastructure.The Mombasa to Malaba/Kisumu section is expected to be operational by 2018.

Uganda, Rwanda and South SudanFeasibility study and the preliminary design of Malaba to Kampala section is in progress. The Governments of Uganda and Rwanda are discussing joint procurement of consultants to undertake the Feasibility Studies and Preliminary Designs of the Kampala to Kasese and Bihanga to Kigali sections. Uganda and South Sudan also intend to jointly study Tororo to Pakwach and Gulu to Juba sections for Standard Gauge Railway installation.

Salient Features of the proposed Standard Gauge RailwayThe Railway will be developed for freight and passenger traffic. The railway will complement the existing railway and roads, which will continue providing vital transport services for freight destinations and the last mile links within and around the region. Each freight train will have a capacity of 216 TEUs and will travel at an average speed of 80 kilometres per hour. Freight trains will be operated on the basis of speed, safety and cost effectiveness.The passenger services will be operated with maximum safety and comfort for passengers at the stations and inside the trains.Each passenger train will have a capacity of 960 passengers and will travel at a average speed of 120 kilometers per hour.Construction of state-of-the-art stations.The railway has been designed for environmental compatibility particularly within the National Parks where fencing will be provided along with under passages for wild animals.

Benefits of the Standard Gauge Railway developmentEconomic BenefitsThe railway development will have the following immediate economic benefits:-

Reduced cost of t ransportat ion i n t h e r e g i o n m a k i n g i t a n attractive investment destination.

Protect the environment through r e d u c e d c a r b o n e m i s s i o n .

Accelerate industrialisation through easier and cheaper transport and the establishment of new industries t o s e r v i c e t h e n e w r a i l w ay.

Cont r ibu te to an annua l GDP growth of at least 1.5% during

construction and subsequent operation. Enhance the regions competitiveness. Reduce congestion at Mombasa

Po r t s ecu r ing the po r t a s t he preferred facil i ty in the region.

Reduce wear and tear on roads; hence reduce maintenance cost.

E n h a n c e d f r e i g h t s e c u r i t y .

Social BenefitsThe fo l lowing socia l benef i t s wi l l be realised during the construction a n d o p e r a t i o n o f t h e r a i l w a y :

Di rec t jobs : A t l eas t 60 new j o b s p e r k i l o m e t r e o f t r a c k d u r i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n p e r i o d .

Local Industries: Large quantities of local inputs such as steel, cement, aggregates, electricity generation and electricity transmission pylons and cables, roofing materials, glass, etc. required from local industries with potential to create at least 10,000 jobs.

Service and hospitality industry: Estimated 3,000 jobs to provide foods, accommodation and leisure.

Skills development: Estimated 15,000 people to acquire skills suitable for self employment after the construction p e r i o d ( m a s o n s , c a r p e n t e r s , mechanics , e lec t r ic ians , e tc . )

Technology transfer: Estimated 400 engineers and high technology technicians will be trained during construction and will be available for local and regional railway development.

Accidents reduction: The railway will reduce the number of heavy trucks on the road thus reducing accident incidents making the roads sa fer for human t ra f f ic .

SGR launch marks start of regional integration

President Kenyatta during the launch of SGR in Changmawe, looking on is Eng. Kamau CS - Transort

NEWS


NEWS

We consider the African Virtual University (AVU) Project very critical to the effort to improve access to higher education in Africa and are pleased to learn that the deliberations on the integration of e-learning and open education into mainstream education programs was f rui t fu l , concluded Stefan Muller, Lead Economist of the African Development Banks (AfDB) East Africa Regional Resource Center (EARC) during the first international conference African Virtual University organized from November 20-22, 2013 in Nairobi.

Under the theme Integrating eLearning and Open Education to Increase Access to Quality Education and Training, the conference brought together more than 100 participants including Ministries of Education and 22 universities from the Multinational AVU support project as well as the private sector. The main objective of this first gathering was to discuss the future of e-learning in Africa and the role of Open Education Resources (OERs) including the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in the ICT learning revolution.

The conference is very timely, it is taking place at a time of ICT revolution in Africa. It is critical for the Bank to seize the moment and ensure that regional member countries harness ICT technologies that will result not only in increased access,

Benefits of E-Learning Virtual University and AfDB discuss

New OER portal from the African

Virtual University (AVU)

but also facilitate quality and relevance of education, said Ruth Charo, Principal Social Development Specialist, AfDB EARC. OERs, including MOOCS, have the potential to enhance access to quality education. However, certification and accreditation for the OERs has to be looked into. In all countries, especially in Africa, certification as an evidence of one having acquired training is almost mandatory. Networking and partnerships among institutions in Africa and the West will be critical to achieve this, she added.

In addition to OERs and MOOCs, discussion also centered on ICT infrastructure including access to e-learning and mobile learning; accreditation and quality assurance in e-learning; management of e-learning; and gender aspects in e- learning.

Benefitting from AfDB funding, the AVU Capacity Enhancement Program (ACEP) launched a training on November 18, 2013 to equip AVUs partner institutions with e-learning skills in areas such as ICT instructional processes, technology support and management of e-learning. AVU is also considering the delivery o f the ACEP program on MOOCs.

To this purpose, a feasibility analysis is being conducted to ensure issues such as certification and quality assurance are given the necessary attention. The ICT-enhanced

curriculum structures for Teacher Education Program in Maths and Sciences have been shared with the universities for review after which the specific ICT-enhanced modules authoring will begin. The professional development program offers today 13 learning modules for open distance and e-learning programs, including materials development and instructional design, governance, management and financing of open, distance and e-learning programs .

BackgroundThe African Virtual University (AVU) is a pan-African intergovernmental organization that has established the largest distance and e-learning network in over 27 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, and produced more than 40,000 graduates. It hosts 219 open educational modules ranging from mathematics and science, teacher education, and ICT skills available free of charge in English, French and Portuguese. The AVUs interactive portal is accessed beyond Africa in 142 countries with a majority from Brazil and the United States. AVU works with universities in Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Tanzania


NEWS

Tullow strikes oil in Agete-1

Engineers summoned to invest

Tullow Oil plc (Tullow) in November 2013 announced that the Agete-1 exploration well in Block 13T, onshore Northern Kenya, had discovered and sampled moveable oil with an estimated 100 meters of net oil pay in good quality sandstone reservoirs.

The Agete-1 wildcat well is part of a major exploration campaign and has made the fifth consecutive oil discovery in the first of a chain of multiple rift basins across Tullows acreage in the region. This discovery de-risks several follow-on prospects located to the north and is on trend with the Twiga South, Ekales, and Ngamia oil discoveries and adds to the significant resource base already discovered.

The Sakson PR5 rig drilled Agete-1 to a total depth of 1,930 metres. Following completion of logging operations the well would be suspended for future flow testing which will confirm the net pay count. The rig would then move to drill the Ewoi-1 wildcat in the east of this basin, targeting a rift flank prospect similar to the recent Etuko oil discovery.

Tullow operates the Agete-1 well with a 50% interest and Africa Oil (50%) has a non-operated interest.A fifth consecutive oil discovery onshore Northern Kenya

highlights the emerging world class exploration and production potential within our rift basin acreage. An intensive campaign for 2014 includes appraisal and exploration within this first basin and pioneering wells targeting the prospectivity throughout the entire chain of similar rift basins, Angus McCoss, Exploration Director, Tullow Oil plc commented in a press statement.

Elsewhere in Kenya, exploration and appraisal activities continue to accelerate

with the Amosing-1 well, in Block 10BB. The Etuko-1 well test in Block 10BB was also scheduled to commence this before end of the year with the PR Marriott 46 rig which had recently arrived in country and the Ekales-1 well test scheduled to commence with the new SMP-5 work over unit in early December.

Mhandisi Swahili for Engineer has been adopted for a name of a Sacco already registered meant for the wahandisi (Engineers) in the country. Speaking in November, during an event held in honor of Eng. Michael Kamau being appointed as the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure courtesy of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Kenya (ACEK), Eng. James Mwangi, the Secretary of ACEK, urged the engineers to join the Sacco for investment.

Mhandisi Sacco which was launched on October 25 this year requires a registration fee of Sh5,000 with a minimum monthly

payment of Sh5,000 and no limitation of a maximum, the minimum shares is 250 which are being sold at Sh20.

In total the amount of money that is required for you to become a full member is Sh15, 000. The whole idea is that we have to invest, said Eng. Mwangi. Eng. Johnson Matu who chairs the Sacco was also in attendance and echoed Eng. Mwangis sentiments.

According to Eng. Mwangi, this venture spells a bright future in the Engineering sector. The Sacco is set to grow into an investment Company which will enable

engineers to invest in the various sectors of Engineering.

After this sacco, we want to have an investment company called Mhandisi Sacco investment Company Limited. With that company we shall be able to invest in many areas especially the new areas like Energy-oil and gas, transport- the railway is coming, theres also the port, he said.

I think the future for us is bright because we have the technical know-how and many approachable people and in government who can make it easier for us. So, I appeal to you to join this Sacco, he concluded.

Tullow Oil Rig in Northern Kenya


NEWS

3rd December last year marked another milestone taken by the Kenyan government towards development in the country Kenya marked 50 years of independence. The President presided over the ground breaking of the KSh. 55.6 billion Greenfield Terminal at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) set for completion in 2016.

I expect this facility to be completed on time, within budget and to world class standards, said President Kenyatta. It is, therefore, my expectation that in 2016 we will be back here again to open the facility and inaugurate it for use, he concluded.

The project is meant to expand JKIA by increasing its capacity of handling passengers by accommodating 20 million more annually from it 6.5million capacity.

President Uhuru Kenyatta said that Africa has historically missed out on development opportunities due to inadequate investments in transport infrastructure or reliance on pre-independence infrastructure. As Kenyans, we must now get it right, he added.

The Greenfield terminal is one of the flagship projects embodied in the Vision 2030 to be implemented by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA). It will be built from scratch and delinked from the main JKIA facility and will be the single largest single facility in Africa. This development, the President said will enable Kenya attain her National Vision 2030 aspirations to be

Greenfield terminal launched; set for completion in 2016

Kenyas 40 months energy plan pushed to 72 months

a middle income country.The 178, 000 square meters four level facilities includes the construction of eight air bridges for docking the aircrafts, 50 check-in counters of international standards, 45 stands for parking the aircrafts on the linked apron space and an extra runway, access roads and new vehicle parking areas.

President Kenyatta drives an excavator during the ground breaking ceremony of Greenfield Terminal

Kenyas energy plan which would have seen the country add up to 5,000 mega watts energy into the grid in 40 months is

likely to take longer than scheduled. This is according to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) who are revising the

plan to what could be up to 72 months or six years.

An initial plan as per the Vision 2030 was to have an additional 1,500MW of electricity in place by 2017.This would have increased the countrys power production from the current 1,700MW to over 3,000MW.

There are also plans to retire all thermal generators which are currently being operated by Independent and Emergency Power Producers (IPPs).These account for a substantial proportion of installed capacity at over 600MW.Thermal energy is among the most expensive energies in the country and the government is seeking to invest in other cheaper renewable alternatives.

A section of Ol Karia Geothermal power station


NEWS

Kenya marked 50 last year in style with the launch of three projects set to combat traffic congestion in Nairobi. Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga launched the Sh455 million Makadara Railway Station located along Jogoo Road, while the two former Presidents, Hon. Mwai Kibaki and Hon. Daniel Moi launched Ring Road in Westlands among other road infrastructures in the area and the Imara Daima Railway station respectively in three consecutive days prior to Kenyas Jamhuri day on 12th December.

While opening the Makadara station, Hon. Raila called for an efficient, reliable and safe transport system. Mr. Raila thanked the president for inviting him to officiate a State function, saying it was an honor. He said poor planning had seen Nairobi, especially the city centre, clogged with traffic jams leading to loss of economic opportunities that run into millions of shillings in just a single day. While this has been happening in Nairobi, other cities in the region have been investing in urban infrastructure, he added.

He said the citys potential is crippled by lack of adequate infrastructure, overcrowded roads, rising population, pollution and a congested airport.

To attract business to our country, we must invest in a transport system that is efficient, reliable, predictable and safe, said Mr. Raila.

Hon. Moi echoed Mr. Railas sentiments during the launch of the Imara Daima station asking the Ministry of Transport to come up with more stations to cover all routes.

This is the mode of transport Kenyans should be using because i t s safer, convenient and faster, Mr. Moi said. This will help save the economy huge amounts of cash it uses to build roads, he added.

Mr. Moi also requested Kenya Railways to promote the use of trains to allow for easy

movement of goods and services across major towns to save money and time.

The Makadara and Imara Daima stations mark the second and third project completed with regard to decongesting traffic in Nairobi after the Syokimau station which was launched in November 13, 2012 by the former President, Mwai Kibaki.

The Makadara facility which targets 5,000 commuters from Buru Buru, Jogoo Road, Jerusalem, Jericho, Uhuru and Hamza Estates will be served by the Syokimau train. The Imara Daima facility targets 2,000 commuters from Industrial Area, Imara Daima, Embakasi North and Mombasa Road.

Infrastructural projects launched as Kenya marks 50 years of independence

During the inauguration of Ring Road, Mr. Kibaki Kibaki said the network of roads, including the Western Ring Road, was deliberately designed to save time, improve access and ensure that vehicle owners were spared from avoidable wear and tear caused by poor roads.

An efficient road infrastructure is a prerequisite to faster movement of goods, services and persons. I believe it is this spirit that informs the various interventions the Government is implementing in the road sector, including speedy and timely rehabilitation and reconstruction of deteriorated sections of our roads, said Mr. Kibaki.

He also said traffic jams and congestion will be a thing of the past and that the new roads and bypasses will open Kenya up to investors, making it an economic hub in the region.

In all inaugurations, in attendance was Engineer Michael Kamau, Cabinet Secretary of Transport and Infrastructure, who emphasized that his ministry was working round the clock to ensure that infrastructural projects were completed on time.

An efficient road infrastructure is a prerequisite to faster movement of goods, services and persons. I believe it is this spirit that informs the various interventions the Government is implementing in the road sector,....

>> retired President Mwai Kibaki

Former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga with Eng. Kamau CS - Transort share a laughter aboard a train during the launch of New Makadara Railway Station


water management in light of the increase in demand for water access, allocation and services.

NEWS

Every 22nd March of every year since 1993 Kenya has always marked the World Water Day. This was after a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly passed in December 1992.

The World Water day has been marked all through with different themes featuring in every year. Last years celebration was marked under the theme Water Cooperation.

The objective of the day was to raise awareness, both on potential for increased cooperation and on the challenges facing

WORLD WATERS DAY

The objective of the day was to raise awareness, both on potential for increased cooperation and on the challenges facing water management in l ight of the increase in demand for water access, allocation and services.

A child drinking clean water

A fountain of clean water at Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA)

According to the World Economic Forum 2013, water scarcity is the second most important risk facing the world in the years ahead. The inability for most countries to measure rainfall patterns or water usage has made it more difficult to curb the problem.A lot of investment has been made in the country from local, government and international investors in the effort to improve increase and protect water bodies.With the countrys latest mega discovery of

an aquifer, theres more task for the country to ensure that the water yet freely given is beneficial to most if not all Kenyans.

World wetlands day2nd February is the Worlds wetlands day. It marks the date of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands, called Ramsar Convention, on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Each year, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and groups of citizens at all levels of the community have taken advantage of the opportunity to undertake actions aimed at raising public awareness of wetland values and benefits.

Mismanagement of water sources has led to drying up of large water bodies with some reducing their capacity with up to more than half. While 65-70 per cent of global water is used in agriculture, there is need to regulate the usage to ensure sustainable and profitable use.


An Information Center for the Extractive Sector (ICES) has been opened in Nairobi. The center which promotes knowledge-based dialogue with the aim of promoting policies for the extractive sector was officially launched on 11th December 2013 by the Mining Cabinet Secretary, Naajib Balala.

Speaking during the launch of the center, AfDB director for the East Africa Resource Center Gabriel Negutu pointed the timeliness of the information center saying that the opportunity to use the sector to accelerate national development and promote economic growth required careful planning.

Extractives as of the year 2013 contributed one per cent of the countrys national income and less than two per cent of export

earnings. It is however estimated that the sector may grow to 10 per cent of GDP.

of Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Extractive Information center launched in Nairobi

Kenyas cyber security faulty

Kenyas cyber security has been dimmed poor following a test by Eluclid Consultancy. This was concluded after an 18 month test on the security of consumers using the four telecommunication networks.The report said that the four telecom firms in the country use old technology to encrypt information which is easily prone to attacks. A test was conducted where they intercepted voice traffic and also tried to obtain temporary secret keys for some subscribers which proved successful, affirming the weakness of the countrys cyber security.

The older technologies being used-A5/1 and A5/2 -attracted global attention mid last year when a German company cryptographer revealed that he was able to manipulate mobile handsets into granting access to device location, SMS functions and allow

changes to voicemail number.Millions of mobile phone subscribers and internet users in the country remain exposed to snooping and data interception

as the service providers are using outdated network security software industry regularly. Some have however announced plans to migrate to safer platforms.

Housed by the AfDB, the information center would be supported by the United Nations Development Programme and Governments

NEWS

11 KENYA ENGINEER - November/December 2013

NEWS

Cementing industry faces competition and likely battles amongst cement manufacturers for Kituis treasure, its huge limestone deposits and proximity to the Mui basin, which has large coal reserves offering a convenient source of energy. Athi River Mining (ARM) Cement is set to build Kenyas biggest plant in Kitui County and other plants elsewhere in the country whereas in September last year Aliko Dangote, Africas richest man stated plans to open a Sh34.8 billion ($400 million) plant in Kenya.

With most cement firms turning to coal to power their machines as opposed to expensive oil fuel, which is prone to price instability, a plants proximity to the reserves is an added advantage over the companys rivals.

After Dangote announced during his trip last year that he would invest $400m in a cement plant in Kenyas Kitui County, local cement makers were roused to action.

According to a note from financial services firm Imara Africa Securities,East African Portland Cement and other firms including Bamburi Cement and ARM rushed to Kitui to seal deals with the local government to take control of resources in the area.Currently, Kenyan cement makers import coal from South Africa.

Dangote told us he needs 1,000MW of energy, which we dont have. So we are looking to put up a 960MW coal plant in Kitui, explained Kenyas cabinet secretary for energy Davis Chirchir, adding that Kenyas government will soon ask for expressions of interest from investors to build it.

ARM will raise up to Sh25.5 billion ($300 million) to fund the new plants including the Kitui unit that is anticipated to produce 8,000 tonnes of cement per day making it the single largest cement factory in the country and superior to the unit planned by Dangote that will have a daily capacity of about 5,500 tonnes.

We plan to start construction of the Kitui plant late next year. It is a major development for us, said Pradeep Paunrana, ARMs chief executive in an interview in December.

According to Mr. Paunrana the firm will raise up to Sh25.5 billion to fund the Kitui plant and other planned factories over the next five years which will be done through a mix of bank loans, corporate bonds and rights issues. He added that the board is yet to arrive at the share of debt and equity.

Kenya produced 4.7 million tonnes of cement in 2012, up from 2.8 tonnes in 2008, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). ARM posted a 28 per cent rise in net profit for the nine months to September last year, boosted by higher sales. Its net profit stood at Sh1.53 billion in the period, driven by a 32 per cent jump in sales to Sh10.2 billion. Its share gained 30.7 per cent over the past six months to Sh85 since June last year. Portland Cement is up 42 per cent in the period while Bamburi has shed 8.2 per cent.

ARM races to set up plant in countrys limestine hub

Kenya produced 4.7 million

tonnes of cement in 2012, up from

2.8 tonnes in 2008, according

to the Kenya National Bureau of

Statistics (KNBS). ARM posted a

28 per cent rise in net profit for

the nine months to September last

year, boosted by higher sales. Its

net profit stood at Sh1.53 billion

in the period, driven by a 32 per

cent jump in sales to Sh10.2

billion.

Athi River Mining cement plant


NEWS

The US committed Sh17 billion to finance a 100 megawatt wind farm located in Kajiado County. The Kipeto Wind farm as is named is another one of Kenyas mega wind projects after Lake Turkana Wind Power, Ngong Hills among others.

A US public agency responsible for mobilizing capital for private firms, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) pledged to inject the Sh17 billion into the project. This will be part of the Ksh 43 billion that the US intends to invest in the countrys renewable energy resources in the next five years.

Kipeto Energy Limited will install 47 GE 1.6-100 and 16 GE 1.6-82.5 wind turbines each with a rated

capacity of 1.62 MW which leads to an installed capacity of 102.06 MW. It is estimated that the project activity will supply 410,476 MWh of clean electricity to the Kenyan national electricity grid per year.Construction works will also include the

construction of a new on-site substation and a 66 kV transmission line, which will transmit generated electricity to the Kenyan national electricity grid.

The project comes at a time when the country is seeking to lower the cost of energy in the country as well as exploit cheaper resources of energy to end over reliance on hydro power as well as cut on the use of the expensive diesel energy.The 2011-2031 Updated Least Cost Power Development Plan forecasts that, in 2031, Kenyas peak

demand will range between 12,738 and 22,985MW. In order to meet this demand, the candidate generation sources considered in the system expansion plan include geothermal, hydro, wind, coal, oil fired plants and nuclear power plants.It is expected that over the 30-year period, 26% of the total installed capacity will be obtained from geothermal, 19% from nuclear plants, 13% from coal plants and 9% from imports. Wind and hydro plants will provide 9% and 5% respectively while

medium speed diesel and gas turbines will provide 9% and 11% of the total capacity respectively.

The project activity will achieve CO2 emission reductions by replacing electricity generated by fossil fuel powered plants connected to the national electricity grid. The project is expected to achieve annual emission reductions of about 253,469 t CO2 / year. ,says a report on the project.

OwnershipThe wind farm is managed by Kipeto Energy Limited (KEL),initially founded by Kenya based Craftskills Wind Energy International Limited.KEL is majority owned by General Electric with the World Bank Groups investment arm,IFC and a community trust owning the other shares.

The Kipeto wind will become the countrys second largest wind power farm after LTWP which will have an installed capacity of 300MW.

KShs. 17bn committed to the countryssecond largest wind power firm

Ngong Hills Wind turbines and power substation


NEWS

In a world where tireless efforts are being made to save on energy and also generate more, researchers have developed a device with a mechanism to capture and harness energy transmitted by sources such as radio and television transmitters, cell phone networks and satellite communications systems. This energy though has been with us, has never been well utilised or thought as a major source of energy until recently.

The device features a five cell meta-material array made up of five fiberglass and copper conductors on a circuit board which is responsible for the energy conversion process. The device is made using inkjet printers which combine sensors, antennas and energy-scavenging capabilities on paper or flexible polymers.

Communication devices transmit energy in many different frequency ranges. This energy is captured converting it from AC to DC and then stores it in capacitors and batteries.

The technology can utilise frequencies from FM radio to radar, a range spanning 100 megahertz to 15 gigahertz or higher.TV bands are also a good source of energy that can give energy amounting to hundreds of microwatts with multi-band systems

Harnessing energy from

telecommunication devicesJuice Box;

Solution to addressglobal energy access

expected to generate one millliwatt or more. This amount of power is enough to operate many small electronic devices.

ApplicationScavenged energy could assist a solar element to charge a battery during the day. At night, when solar cells dont provide power, scavenged energy would continue to increase the battery charge or would prevent discharging.

Utilizing ambient electromagnetic energy could provide a form of system backup. If a battery or a solar-collector/battery package failed completely, the scavenged energy could allow the system to transmit a wireless distress signal while also potentially maintaining critical functionalities.

By scavenging this ambient energy from the air around us, the technique could provide a new way to power networks of wireless sensors, microprocessors and communications chips.

Energy portability would be termed a fantasy before this concept came up. The Juice box, developed by the Artefact group, is an open energy system concept that allows people to capture energy from multiple sources, store and transport it to where it is needed, and power devices even in the remotest locations.

Gavin Kelly, principal and co-founder of Artefact feels it important to try to give shape and form to one of Bill Gates ideas on how to use technology to solve the worlds most severe challenges. And thats exactly what he and the team are doing. However, developing the concept is the first step but making it a reality he says would require partnerships; engineering companies to invest and the manufacturers to it a reality.

The Juice box is designed to be flexible in terms of supporting multiple energy sources like solar, car battery, from the electric grid or even kinetic.

The Juice box has a detachable LED Light which Artefact says will enable people to work or even study after dark; swappable and stackable batteries with a USB port which can be stacked together for extra energy; source agnostic input panel which safely connects to multiple sources, including raw cables; Multiple Outputs that allows charging of many devices and supports electronics and a display that shows the time remaining , not forgetting an attachable dynamo which harnesses kinetic power and enables manual charging in emergencies.

The device features a five cell meta-material array made up of five fiberglass and copper conductors on a circuit board which is responsible for the energy conversion process.


Ngong Hills wind power project

NEWS

Africas largest wind power project is now on course following European Unions move to inject Sh3.5 billion to bridge a financing gap in the project. The Lake Turkana Wind Project (LTWP) will see the countrys national grid add 300 mega watts energy.

The entire Lake Turkana Wind Project (LTWP) is estimated to cost Sh70 billion making it one of the largest private investment projects in Kenya and also the largest single wind farm in sub-Saharan Africa.

It will involve a consortium comprising KP&P Africa B.V., Aldwych International, Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC), Industrial Fund for Developing Countries (IFU), and Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries (Norfund).

Africas largest wind power project recieves a major boost

Bidders called for development of geothermal plant at Menengai

The government of Kenya via Geothermal Development Company (GDC) has called on interested bidders to send in their tenders papers for the development of geothermal energy at the Menengai. This follows the acquisition of funds by the government from the African Development Bank.

The funds will be used to finance the phase 1 of the Menengai Geothermal project. Whoever wins the tender will be expected to supply and install 5-10MW modular power plant.

The project works will include design, manufacture, supply and installation, commissioning and training of GDC instructors. The project location is Menengai Geothermal Field in Nakuru County.

Bids must be delivered to the Tender Box

on 2nd Floor of GDC Riverside Office, Riverside Drive, Nairobi, Kenya on or before 1400hrs on 6th January 2014 and must be accompanied by a bid security of

USD 250,000 (United States Dollars Two Hundred and Fifty Thousands)or equivalent in Kenya Shillings (KES).,says a statement on the tender invitation advert

Hot steam gushing out from a pipe at the Olkaria Power Station

KeThe entire Lake Turkana Wind

Project (LTWP) is estinmated to

cost Sh. 70 Billio...

Aldwych, a power company focused on Africa, will oversee the construction and operations of the power plant on behalf of LTWP. Vestas will provide the maintenance of the plant in contract with Lake Turkana Wind Project.

Kenya Power will buy the energy produced at a fixed price over a 20-year period in accordance with the signed Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).


FEATURE

Infrastructure is crucial to economic and social development. Poor infrastructure impedes a nations economic growth and internat ional competi t iveness. Adequate supply of infrastructure services is an essential ingredient for productivity and growth. The Cement industry plays a major role if not the main role in Infrastructure development of any country. It is hence significant to analytically review and asses Kenyas Cement industry in view of infrastructure development within the context of the way forward for meeting the outcomes of the countrys Vision 2030.

Kenya has maintained a s table macroeconomic environment and has, at the same time, been developing key infrastructure facilities and public works nationwide to stimulate growth. In the financial year 2010/11, the Kenyan government adopted a fiscal policy geared towards consolidating economic recovery and putting the economy back to the Vision 2030 targets.

Cement i s the main ingredient for construct ion and infrastructure development. According to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Cement consumption for the 11 months ended November last year hit a high of 2.8 million metric tonnes while supply for the

12 months ended December hit a record 3.7 million metric tonnes. This is the highest cement supply and production since 2006.

With new cement companies, the Kenya economy has begun to enjoy healthy economic development in terms of advancement of technology, eventually leading to realization of Vision 2030. According to Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) officials the multi-billion technical cement plants now play a significant role in attainment of green technology that has increased national output. AAK says that in a move to compete for market of their products and improve efficiency, cement companies are investing in the most modern of technologies.

Consumers of building materials now consider the efficiency of getting the products and its quality rather than price, forcing investors to utilize new production and supply chain techniques that increase efficiency of their operations.

Among the technologies cement manufacturing plants are embracing is the use of back filters to trap dust from the crushed clinker and pozzollana, which is recycled as raw material, minimizing environmental hazard and reducing wastage.

Kenyas cement industry, the largest

in East Africa, benefits from increased government spending on infrastructure projects both within the country and in neighboring countries. Domestic consumption is growing at a faster rate than production, and Kenyas market is expected to consume 81 percent of output in 2013.

According to a report published last year by Investment Bank Dyer and Blair, Kenyas building and construction sector is amongst the most rapidly growing, experiencing an average growth rate of 14.2% for the period 2006 2011. While the cement industry, cement consumption in particular is highly correlated to a countrys economic performance, cement consumption experienced superior growth that was more than twice the rate of GDP growth during the period. Growing in tandem with the construction sector, cement consumption increased at an average rate of 14.1% for the period 2006 2011, with consumption reaching 3.43 million tonnes (mT) in 2011, up from 1.57mT in 2006.

The key drivers of this growth in consumption according to the report included rising demand for housing, the commercial construction boom fuelled by increased foreign investment, and extensive government and donor-funded spending on the countrys mega infrastructure projects.

CEMENTING VISION 2030

A Cement Mining plant


Cement production expanded at an average rate of 11.6% for the period 2006 2011 to 4.09mT in 2011 from 2.41mT in 2006. This rise in production was driven by the entry of new cement producers and extensive capacity expansion by existing players in response to increasing competition. This rise in production led to the consistent oversupply of cement during this period. Given an estimated industry capacity utilization rate of about 72%, this glut supply could be much higher were installed capacity fully utilized.

Kenyas Cement exports average 21.1% of total cement production with key export markets including Uganda, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other East and Central African countries.

Imported cement accounts for a marginal 2% of total cement consumption indicating the countrys overall reliance on locally produced cement. In 2011, cement import duty under the East African Community Common External Tariff was lowered by 10% to 25% despite stiff opposition from industry players. Should the suspension of the 10% import duty remain, the quantum of cheap cement imports particularly from low-cost producers such as Egypt, India, China and Pakistan could increase considerably, further widening the demand-supply mismatch.

Summary of Cement production process

Cement is a fine powder which sets after a few hours when mixed with water, and then hardens in a few days into a solid, strong material. Cement is mainly used to bind fine sand and coarse aggregates together in concrete. Cement is a hydraulic binder, i.e. it hardens when water is added.

There are 27 types of common cement which can be grouped into 5 general categories and 3 strength classes: ordinary, high and very high. In addition, some special cements exist like sulphate resisting cement, low heat cement and calcium aluminate cement.

The quarry is the starting pointCement is typically made from limestone and clay or shale. These raw materials are extracted from the quarry crushed to a very

fine powder and then blended in the correct proportions. Cement plants are usually located closely either to hot spots in the market or to areas with sufficient quantities of raw materials. The aim is to keep transportation costs low. Basic constituents for cement (limestone and clay) are taken from quarries in these areas.Clinker is then produced from raw materials and the cement is produced from cement clinker.

Making clinkerThe raw materials are delivered in bulk, crushed and homogenized into a mixture which is fed into a rotary kiln. This is an enormous rotating pipe of 60 to 90 m long and up to 6 m in diameter. This huge kiln is heated by a 2000C flame inside of it. The kiln is slightly inclined to allow for the materials to slowly reach the other end, where it is quickly cooled to 100-200C.

Four basic oxides in the correct proportions make cement clinker: calcium oxide (65%), silicon oxide (20%), alumina oxide (10%) and iron oxide (5%). These elements mixed homogeneously will combine when heated by the flame at a temperature of approximately 1450C. New compounds are formed: silicates, aluminates and ferrites of calcium. Hydraulic hardening of cement is due to the hydration of these compounds. The final product of this phase is called clinker.

After cooling, the clinker may be stored temporarily in a clinker store, or it may pass directly to the cement mill.

The second phase is handled in a cement grinding mill, which may be

located in a different place to the clinker plant. Gypsum (calcium sulphates) and possibly additional cementitious (such as blastfurnace slag, coal fly ash, natural pozzolanas, etc.) or inert materials (limestone) are added to the clinker. All constituents are ground leading to a fine and homogenous powder. The cement is then stored in silos before being dispatched either in bulk or bagged.

What is concrete?Concrete is a solid material made of cement, sand, water, aggregates and often with admixtures. When fresh, it has a certain workability and takes the form of the mould into which it is put. When set and hardened, it is as strong as natural stone and resists time, water, frost, mechanical constraints and fire. Typically, concrete is the essential material used in all types of construction.

Top Cement Manufacturers in Kenya

Top Cement Manufacturers in Kenya include;

Bamburi Cement Limited of the Nguvu brands

ARM Cement Limited of the Rhino brand

East African Portland Cement Company Limited of the Blue Triangle brand

Savannah Cement of the Savannah brand

National Cement of the Simba brand Mombasa Cement of the Nyumba

brand.

FEATURE


FEATURE

In Kenya road accidents are on the rise with approximately 3,000 deaths per year according to a report by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). As of 8th November 2013, a total of 2,683 lives had been lost in road traffic accidents, 5,485 had been seriously injured while 4,258 had been slightly injured since January 2013. Since the Kenyan Government took to establishing busses as the mode of Public transport they have been victims of the mayhem, but could this be countered? Is it a question of the quality of the Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) assembled and if improved, could they withstand such situations if they occur?

Yes. According to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure, Eng. Michael Kamau: The number of fatalities resulting from road crash involving PSVs is on the rise partly due to weak vehicle bodies that collapse or shears-off on frontal, side or rollover impacts.

A case in point would be the Ntulele bus crash along Mai Mahiu-Narok road on August 29, 2013 which recorded the highest number of fatalities in the year. One of the causes of loss of many lives was poor building of the bus evidenced by the tearing off of the entire roof of the bus.

Vital safety features involvedThe critical safety features involved in bus building as stipulated in the Traffic Act and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) bus standards compiled by Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers (KVM) Limited (one of the key assemblers in Kenya) include: roll over protection, front impact protection, side impact protection, Cross members, gangway and seat arrangement, side wall diagonals, passenger door, passenger seats, uppermost stair, front grille and rear overhang.

According to experts, a bus should always meet minimum standards which include: Roll over protection; Front impact protection; and side impact protection.

Roll over protection would include the use of gussets to reinforce the strength in between side walls and the roof and diagonals to prevent a passenger cabin from collapsing sideward.

Front impact protection involves two options; on one hand the use of a diagonal column to stabilize the roof through directing the impulse force into the lower body by making a column out of two strong tubes, using zig-zag interconnection in between bars ensuring theres a correct angle from roof to column and another one from the column into the bus body. On the

other hand, body builders could stabilize the roof through reinforced side pillars. Side impact protection involves two recommended options; the use of triangular vertical reinforcement underneath the floor which gives structural strength against side impact and roll over; And triangular reinforcement in the longitudinal inside of floor level.

During a bus or coach rollover without the above minimum standards, the occupant will have a larger distance from the centre of rotation as compared to that of a car occupant. This is what makes a rollover accident extremely fatal and explains the huge number of accident fatalities in Kenya. The side windows get broken, the risk of passenger ejection and injury increases. The most common body regions injured in a rollover, when no ejection occurs, are the head, the neck and the shoulder.

Research from Crash analysis indicate that injury in rollover crashes can be caused by the impact of the occupants on the side panel, on the luggage rack and also by the effects of occupant interaction.

The number of cross members are meant to be enough for strength and safety according to the load class (which is a minimum of 4 for a 26-seater and a maximum of 8 for a

Bus Building and safety Concept in Kenya

A mini bus matatu in Nairobi

by Daisy Gakuu


FEATURE

71-seater), They should not be more than necessary but be weight and cost relevant and the welding joints be first grade and verified.

With regards to the gangway and seat arrangement, the width of the gangway recommended is 450 mm (for Class IV, above 40 passengers) and 350 mm (for Class III, 26 40 passengers). This requires a 3 by 2 seat arrangement and a vehicle track width of 2250 mm or correctly curved side pillars.

The side wall diagonal setting safety concept would involve building a structural strength against rattling, cracks and bending which prevents share force in an accident.

The passenger door dimensions according to KEBS is a minimum height of 1650 mm with a minimum width of 650 mm and not above 700 mm and lastly, that the 1st step has a maximum height of 460 mm above ground. According to the European Safety regulations, in case of a panic after an accident the passengers want to press the door outward. The passenger door should

swing outward or be a pantographic door otherwise it becomes a death trap in case of an emergency.

The uppermost s tair should not be protruding into gangway which reduces the dangerous interference. In relation to interference, the passenger seat should have neither sharp corner nor protrusions, they should be made out of round tubes and the width of the seat frame be 400 mm per seat.

The Front grille gets lost and almost always gets locked and will endanger traffic. It should be fixed to the bus body through the hinges. While the Rear overhang should be a maximum of 60 % of the wheel base measured behind rear axle to rear bumper to ensure comfortable vehicle handling (stability on the road).

Way forwardHowever, according to Eng. Kamau there are new regulations on vehicle body building that have been developed by KEBS in order to address the challenge of making quality bus bodies which NTSA is set to implement. This he said during GMs commissioning of

the bus building technology centre in late October.

The Centre according to the East African Region assembler is set to be used as a benchmark for safety, quality and technology in the industry.

Eng. Kamau added that Compliance with KEBS regulations would enhance survival rates in the event of a crash. NTSA is also set to ensure that vehicle body builders adhere to the use of specified materials failure to which they will be deregistered.

NTSA has also recommended outlawing of mounting of carriers on the roof tops of public service vehicles. This is important to avoid instances where buses with load carriers on top are prone to tipping over when overloaded as happened in the case of Ntulele crash.

With improved bus body bui ld ing technology, lives will be saved, there will be job creation and we wont have to compromise design for safety for appearance only.

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FEATURE

Introduction

Manufacturing and industry are some of the pillars of Kenya Vision 2030; these two must be emphasized to support the populations human needs and also provide materials for most of the development projects set in the vision 2030.

Kenya is an emerging economy that is averagely industrialized. It has a large manufacturing sector serving both the local market and exports mostly to the East African region. Industrialization and manufacturing cut through most of the ministries of the Kenyan government and affects all Kenyans. Industrialization and manufacturing contribute to approximately 10% of the Gross Domestic Product of Kenya per year. Consequently it is the real engine of economic growth in Kenya.

Industrialization is the process in which a society transforms itself from a primarily agricultural society into one based on industry and the manufacturing of goods and services. Industry is the production of an economic good or service within an economy.

Manufacturing however is to make or process raw materials, especially in large quantities and by means of an industrial process. Manufacturing makes an important

contribution to the Kenyan economy and currently employs about 254,000 people, which represents 13 per cent of total employment in Kenya. An additional 1.4 million people are employed in the informal side of the industry. The sector is highly fragmented with more than 2,000 manufacturing units.

To guide industrialization in Kenya, the government set up an initiative dubbed Master Plan for Kenyas Industrial development {MAPSKID}. This will provide the roadmap for development of the industrial sector. The priority sectors identified in the MAPSKID include Agro-processing; Agro-machinery; Electrical and Electronics/Information Communications Technology {ICT}. Kenya has made several attempts at industrialization and has repeatedly faced emerging and traditional challenges. Challenges include;

Lethargic rates of adoption of ICT in industries, the low levels of penetration and high cost of ICT infrastructure has hindered access and usage. This leads to low access to markets and technological information and increased costs of marketing and communication. We live in a digital age where ICT has to permeate all sectors of the economy for sustainable growth to be realized.

The performance of the manufacturing sector has further been affected by low capital injection. Before the Chinese, local and foreign investments in industries and infrastructure had been on the decline. This could be attributed to Kenyas poor business environment, or politics.

The entry into the local market of substandard, counterfeit and contra-band products has unfairly reduced the market share for locally manufactured products. Counterfeit trade has also discouraged innovation efforts, reduced the government revenue base and some are a health- hazard to consumers.

One can also not ignore competition from other countries for the Kenyan Market exemplified by the current battle between the Sugar manufacturers and COMESA to uphold the ban stopping other COMESA countries from entering the Kenyan sugar market. If they are allowed with the prices they offer, Kenyan sugar industry will be all but done.

Informality and poor sustainability o f mos t l oca l i n i t i a t ive s hampe r industrialization. Majority of the micro and small industries are informal, rural based and have a high mortality rate. Due to the informality and concentration of formal firms in major towns, there are weak linkages,

Challenges to Industrialization and manufacturing in Kenya

A Staff at work in Agro Chemical Ltd. in Western Kenya.

by Achola Kevin - Bsc. Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, UoN


FEATURE

inadequate Business Development Services and subcontracting arrangements with the medium and large firms. In addition, the growth and graduation of the firms in this sector has not fully realized its potential due to a number of factors such as poor market access, restrictive legislation and regulation, high cost of credit, poor infrastructure and access to land.

High input costs result in expensive and often low-quality raw materials, rising labor costs, unreliable and expensive energy. Low productivity levels: Capital productivity in the Kenyan manufacturing sector is particularly low, compared to regional and global productivity levels.

Lack of investment in an industrial knowledge base, innovation, research and development uptake in Manufacturing limits the growth of modern methods of manufacturing in the country. The lack of knowledge, high cost and fear of change has led to low technology uptake. Lack of awareness on intellectual property rights hinders the development, registration and protection of new innovations in the manufacturing sector. There are limited technical and managerial skills; there is generally poor linkage between the industry and the training institutions.

Inadequate capacity of industries to meet product quality standards and ISO certification limits their efficiencies and product qualities. This also makes consumers reluctant to trust these organizations and their products or services.

Inefficient flows of goods and services: Inefficiency in the local transport and logistics sector (e.g. port, rail and road transport services), greatly hampers the ability of local manufacturers to access and be competitive in regional and global markets.

Weak Public Private Partnerships, the Government policy embraces the Private Sector as the engine for economic growth. Nevertheless, there is disharmony and a lack of constructive dialogue between the public and private sectors. This absence of partnership opportunities has contributed to skewed development initiatives, duplication of efforts and the development of policies that are not responsive to the needs of the Private Sector.

Uncertainty in politics with unfortunate occurrences like the post election violence of 2007 and the Westgate terrorist attack

destroy industrial infrastructure physically, reduce morale and also deter foreign investment in Kenya.

Furthermore, the absence of what may correctly be seen as an Industrialization Culture in Kenya has inhibited growth and innovation in the sector. From a historical perspective there has hardly been any effort in locating national industrialization as a necessary and important political decision to be made at the highest level. Examples from other countries indicate how decisive political decisions led many countries to pursue extremely rewarding Industrialization policies. Japan for instance took the political decision in the 1960s and despite having no minerals, including oil, has proved to be a manufacturing powerhouse and an immense economy.

A major problem in Kenya has also been the fact that the operational industrial policies are contained in many disparate policy documents including Acts of Parliament, Sessional Papers, development plans and other sectoral policies and strategies some of which have been reviewed in the foregoing sections. The lack of a harmonized and clearly defined National Industrialization Policy has therefore negatively affected the process of industrialization and is compounded by the existence of numerous laws; a weak legal framework, as well as, overlapping ministerial mandates, all of which have culminated into an uncoordinated and slow pace of industrialization. Lack of clear boundaries on the mandates and functions of ministries and agencies has caused distortions in the value chain, weak sectoral policies, overlaps and conflicts in policy implementation.

The rising levels of poverty coupled with the general slowdown of the economy

has continued to inhibit growth in the demand of locally manufactured goods, as effective demand continues to shift more in favor of relatively cheaper imported manufactured items. Goods manufactured elsewhere have also served to deter the stimulation of local industries. In addition, the high cost of inputs as a result of poor infrastructure has led to high prices of locally manufactured products thereby limiting their competitiveness in the regional markets and hampering the sectors capacity utilization.

In ConclusionIt can however be argued that the world is quickly moving into an information age based on knowledge economies, where emphasis is laid on information systems and the service industry. The most developed countries are investing away from the heavy manufacturing industries of the last century. They even push most of their manufacturing and industrial companies to developing economies to exploit the cheap labor there and keep the pollution at bay. One would on this basis propose that more emphasis should be laid on the service and ICT industries. These include trade, banking, education, transportation and telecommunications and not manufacturing and industry.

Referencesi) Kenya Vision 2030. Ministry of State

for Planning, National Development & Vision 2030.

ii) National industrialization Policy 2012. Ministry of Industrialization

iii) Master Plan for Kenyas Industrial development (MAPSKID) (June 2007). Ministry of Trade and industry

An aerial view of Boilers


SUGAR INDUSTRY IN KENYA

History

The industry is inextricably linked to our history. The Asian were the authors of sugar cane farming in Kenya. The first sugar production on a commercial basis was started in Kibos, todays Nyanza, when the Miwani Sugar Mills was established on a medium scale at Miwani in Kisumu District of Nyanza Province, in 1922.

The second sugar mill was established in 1927 by the Associated Sugar Company Limited at Ramisi in Kwale District of the Coast Province and managed by the Madhvani Group International of India.The post-independence period saw the post-colonial state begin to participate directly in the sugar industry with the government aggressively boosting sugar production with the aim of making the country self-sufficient in sugar production.

To this end the states strategy to develop the sugar industry was guided by two policy documents. The first was the Swynnerton Plan of 1954 and the second was Sessional Paper No.10 of 1965, a policy document in which the government stated its version of African Socialism. The African Socialism and its Application to Planning in Kenya as is titled has remained the countrys development bible since its adoption.

Sugarcane is one of the countrys

major cash crops alongside tea,

coffee and others. According to

the strategic report by Kenya

Sugar Board of Kenya 2010-14, the

sugarcane industry is a major source

of livelihood for communities

along the sugar belt region

in Western Kenya. According

to the report , the sugarcane

industry accounts for about 15

per cent of agricultural GDP.

Today, the sugar business has faced

economical, political and social

challenges that have left sugar

extrapolations pointing down.

Kenya Sugar Industry Strategic Plan 2010-2014In 2008/2009, the industry produced close to 520,000 tonnes of sugar operating at 56 percent of the installed capacity. The industry has the potential of producing over 1 million tonnes of sugar if operated at 89 percent of the installed capacity. This would meet the domestic needs, currently standing at about 700,000 tonnes, and provide a sustained surplus for export.

A s o f 2 0 1 1 , t h e i n d u s t r y f a c e d several challenges including capacity underutilization, lack of regular factorym a i n t e n a n c e , p o o r t r a n s p o r t in f ras t ructure and weak corporate gove rnance . Consequen t l y, mos t f ac to r ies have accumula ted la rge debts amounting to KSh.58 bill ion.

In the 2010-2014 strategic plan, the industry

would require KSh.51.1 billion. KSh.15.3 billion would be used to initiate power co-generation projects in various factories. KSh.12.8 billion would be used to initiate ethanol production projects. The remaining KSh.23 billion would be used to carry out other activities outlined in this Plan.

The Strategic Plan is intended to be the basis of facilitating the transformation required in the sugar subsector. It sets out the framework that will enable the industry achieve its vision of being a world class multi-product sugarcane industry in the next five years.Despite the challenges the industry faces, this Plan underlines the industrys c o m m i t m e n t o f b e i n g e f f i c i e n t , diversified and globally competitive.

Current statusThe parliament has put Kenya Sugar Board on notice over a KSh.1 billion cane

FEATURE

A section of Sony Sugar Milling Company

by Peninah Njakwe


testing project which according to the parliamentary committee was not a priority. The project saw some testing machines; one costing KSh.150 million placed at Nzoia and Sony Sugar factories. They argued that the project was ill-timed when majority of sugar millers were struggling to pay farmers. The two millers recently reported a combined loss of up to KSh.6.1 billion.

The State millers are earmarked for sale, a step that is expected to inject efficiency in a sector that currently hinges on COMESA safeguards that limit imports.

The industrys main source of woes is attributed to the countrys importation of sugar whereas there are firms producing sugar locally. This creates unhealthy competition that in turn injures the economy and the consumers not forgetting fellow competitors. The countrys current

demand for sugar annually stands at 700,000 tonnes while only 500,000 tonnes is produced locally. The balance is imported from the COMESA regional bloc.

Lack of sugarcane is also blamed for the sectors poor performance despite increase in number of hectares under the crop over the years. However, in a move to curb this, a new breed of the crop has been introduced. The new cane breed is fast-maturing taking 12 months to be ready unlike the current one that takes up to 24 months.

To fully utilize the potential in the industry, some essential reforms have been identified in the Agricultural Sector Development S t ra tegy 2009-2020 .They inc lude

FEATURE

enhancing access to input markets, raising cane yields, reducing post-harvest losses, upgrading factory capacity, increase to credit facilities for farmers, increasing value addition by more processing and product diversification as well as strengthening corporate governance in the industry.

There are also plan to privatize some sugar companies such as Nzoia, Chemelil, South Nyanza and Miwani factories. The factory crushing capacities are also an area that needs re-touch as many new factories have crushing capacity of less than 2,000 metric tonnes in a day. The largest sugar company in Kenya currently is with a crushing capacity of 10,000 metric tonnes.


Opportunities for Local Engineers in Modernization of Infrastructure

FEATURE

On 6th November the Institution of Engineers of Kenya {IEK} held a Luncheon at Sarova Panafric, Nairobi. The Guest Speaker was Eng. M S M Kamau- Cabinet Secretary, Transport & Infrastructure and the theme was Opportunities for Local Engineers in Modernization of Infrastructure.

This is a timely initiative by the institution with more to come. After preliminaries, giving awards to outstanding members and sharing a meal the guest speaker took to the center stage, and when he delivered his message; it was abundant with insight.

He started by reminding IEK members of the importance of the engineers bill 2011 and the impact it will have for engineers when enacted fully. He said honorable Franklin Bett the former minister of roads should be honored for his passionate role in having the bill sail through parliament.

Your space will never ever be given to, you have to claim it,the guest speaker asserted. Because all of us engineers are taught always to make reasonable assumptions in engineering matters, we should make the

same when dealing with non-engineering issues. He however reminded engineers that the world is full of unreasonable people. Engineers should learn to negotiate while making reasonable assumptions.Marine transport

If you want to know what transport can do for a country you need to look at Dubai and Singapore, Dubai in terms of the seaport and how much business in brings for them, Eng. Kamau said. Dubai manages 67 ports being the largest transshipment port in the world. They have a huge logistic centre to handle the massive transportation activities in the ports. Because of its marine transport industry, Dubai deals in vehicles, spares parts, heavy machinery and has a big auction for construction equipment.

What did Vasco da Gama see in the Kenyan coast to build fort Jesus here and nowhere else? What is it that we can do with the port of Mombasa? What is it that we have not done with the port of Mombasa? He asked rhetorically. He said there is need to re ignite the dominance of the Kenyan port. The government has started investing in ports at Mombasa and Lamu

and engineers should invest on industries that revolve around the port. This includes repairing containers and maintenance of ships, logistics centers to handle the massive cargo. South Sudan, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda depend on Kenya for handling their cargo.

Air transportHe added that there will also be more traffic going through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport with the construction and opening of the new terminus. This brings with it opportunities not only in the construction of the infrastructure to handle the millions

Engineers at a session during The IEK Launcheon held December last year.

If you want to know what

transport can do for a country

you need to look at Dubai and

Singapore, Dubai in terms of the

seaport and how much business in

brings for them, >> Eng. Kamau,

CS - Transport & Infrastructure


FEATURE

of passengers but also aircraft maintenance industry.

Railway transportHe reminded the Engineers that on 17th of November, the government is set to start the construction of the standard gauge railways. The energy alone need for the railways will be 1200 MW bearing in mind that the current installed capacity in Kenya is only 1570 MW, Engineers have the responsibility to bridge the deficit. The railways will need maintenance once constructed; Engineers should be braced for it. The rolling stock will also require private investors. He encouraged engineers to get together and invest in the rolling stock.

Electrical energy He also said that there will be massive need for energy to maintain all the industries that Kenya is setting in place. The railway system, the pipelines and refineries will be massive consumers of energy. Towards vision 2030 we have to produce up to 19000MW of energy. There are also opportunities in the green energy sector with projects like the Lake Turkana wind power production set to produce 300MW.

MiningOn mining he urged engineers to reflect on why the president gave it a fully fledged ministry. With the discovery and exploitation of new mineral resources in the country new opportunities arise. These include the actual mining, processing and transportation of the minerals. The oil discoveries will bring

the need to set up and maintain pipelines and refineries. There will be opportunities for use and handling of the coal from the Mui basin. More minerals have also been discovered in Kwale and elsewhere in the country. Engineers play a major role in these projects.

IrrigationHe implored the Engineers to get ready for the irrigation opportunities that come with the governments initiative to irrigate one million (1 million) acres in the Turkana basin. There will also be opportunities in the food processing industry that will be stimulated by the yield from the irrigation. Setting up the infrastructure like canals and maintenance of it will also require Engineers.

Housing and property developmentHe also added that with the ever increasing population and the traffic expected from the marine and air transport there is need to develop proper housing and other facilities like lodges and hotels. He urged engineers to get in groups and invest akin to what the doctors are currently doing.

As a closing remark Engineer Kamau said he appreciated the former President Kibaki for his vision in initiating the massive infrastructure and transportation projects like LAPSSET, roads and railways. After visiting Dubai and experiencing what transport and infrastructure development has done to that country; the vision is much clearer to him.

About ENG. MICHAEL S. M. KAMAU; Cabinet Secretary Transport and infrastructure

Engineer Kamau was born in 1958. He is married with two children and has been in the Civil Service since 1981. He was seconded to Moi University in Eldoret for seven years between 1990 1998

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Nairobi, Master of Science in Engineering from the University of New Castle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. He has received extensive training in the field of engineering and management both locally and internationally. He is registered as a Professional Consulting Engineer by Engineers Board of Kenya. He is a fellow of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya and also a fellow of the Kenya Institute of Management. He is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He has been a Permanent Secretary since October, 2007 and a key architect in the infrastructure upgrade in the last 10 years.

Eng. Kamau, CS-Transport presenting an award to Eng. McCorkindale, formerI.E.K Journal Committee Chairperson


FEATURE

DRIVING ON EXPIRED TYRESHow safe are your tyres?

On Thursday 24th October 2013 at about 1500hrs, a passenger service vehicle bound for Bomet County, carrying 9 passengers was involved in a horrific collision with a Nairobi bound bus at a few kilometeres from Ntulele township along the Mai Mahiu Narok National Trunk Road (B3) claiming the lives of all the nine passengers on board. Two months ealier, on the dark night of 29th August 2013, about 200 meters from that spot a bus destined for Homabay County overturned and plunged into a 60ft ravine, killing 41 passengers and maiming a dozen others. As the country mourned, several theories were put across to explain the cause of the accidents.

However, a keen observation of the wreckage of both vehicles pointed out to the front left tyre failure or what is commonly referred to tyre burst as the likely cause that precipitated the chain of events that led to the deadly accidents. But what caused the tyres to fail? Could the accidents have been avoided?

Tyres are engineered to withstand high forces and tough conditions. Studies of tyre safety however show that maintaining proper tyre pressure, observing tyre and

vehicle load limits, and inspecting tyres for cuts, slashes, and other irregularities are the most important things you can do to avoid tyre failure, such as tread separation or blowout and flat tyres. These actions, along with other care and maintenance activities, improve vehicle handling help protect you and others from avoidable breakdowns and accidents, improve fuel economy and increase the life of your tyres.

Many drivers do not pay attention to their tyres. Every tyre has important information which all drivers must know. These are temperature resistance, traction; tread wear, Maximum Load Capacity, speed symbol and the date of manufacture as shown below.

The information is explained in detail as follows; Temperature Resistance These letters indicates a tyres resistance to heat. From highest to lowest, a tyres resistance to heat is graded as A for hot area, B for Normal weather area, or C for Cold area.

Treadware Number This number indicates the tyres wear rate. The higher the treadwear number is, the longer it should take for the tread to wear down. For example, a tyre graded 400 should last twice as long as a tyre graded 200

Traction This letter indicates a tyres ability to stop on wet pavement. A higher graded tyre should allow you to stop your car on wet roads in a shorter distance than a tyre with a lower grade. Traction is graded from highest to lowest as AA,A, B, and C

by Eng. Daniel S. Cherono - KENHA


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Maximum Load Capacity & Tyre Speed Symbol Number indicates the maximum load that can be carried by the tyre. Symbol indicates the max. Speed at which a tyre is designed to be driven for extended periods of time

Manufacturing Date

Tyre Expiry Vehicle tyres have a 4-year validity period from their Date of Manufacture (DOM). Thereafter, the tyre expires and may burst whilst in use.

How do you find out whether your tyre has expired? Check for a stamp like this: (*2603*) There is an asterisk at the beginning and at the end of this serial number. The first two numbers 2 6 will tell you which week of the year the tyre was manufactured. Note that one year has 52 weeks. The last two numbers represent the year of make. *2610* therefore, shows that the said tyre was manufactured on the 26th week of the year 2010. *2612* shows that the tyre was made on the 26th week of 2012.

Check all your tyres for safety purposes. Do not use expired tyres. They are likely to burst (especially when running in hot weather) because the rubber component may have hardened and cracked. Whereas the treads on your tyres may look okay, driving on expired tyres exposes you to grave danger as they are susceptible to failure.

If your tyre does not contain all the above information, as it has been observed on some imports from Far East countries sold cheaply in back streets tyre shops in our cities, then such tyres are counterfeit. Do not buy them.

During regular traffic checks on highways and inspection of motor vehicles, the police and/or the inspectors do not

check whether drivers are using expired tyres, yet this is the most likely cause of the numerous tyre failures experienced on our roads every day. The importation of used vehicles with expired tyres use of re-treaded tyres has also worsened the situation.

In the case of the Ntulele accidents that claimed over 50 lives and caused injuries to a dozen others, investigations are likely to indicate that overloading, speeding and use of expired tyres resulted in tyre failure that caused the ill-fated bus to overturn and the PSV van to lose direction and collide head-on with the Nairobi bound bus.

In conclusion, drivers must understand the information on their tyres and maintain their condition. This is achieved by properly rotating the tyres, inflating them with the right pressure, and constantly evaluating them for wear or damage. The traffic enforcement officers and motor vehicle inspectors should ensure that tyres on all vehicles are safe.

Now that you are more informed on tyre safety, always remember to check and take care of your tyres and that expired tyres must not be used.


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INDUSTRIALIZATION OF COUNTIES ANDTHE VISION 2030

Introduction

In order to industrialize Kenya, and indeed the counties which have recently been created, there is need to transform the countrys economy from being heavily dependent on agriculture to a status where manufacturing would be a major contributor towards the Gross Domestic Product.

The new constitution in our country has brought with it a devolved government sy s tem which has g iven coun t ie s responsibilities which were originally shouldered by the Central Government. As engineers therefore we should orient our focus towards the new requirements in the way we train our engineers in order to equip them with capabilities of addressing the new challenges in the context of the need for industrialization of the counties as envisaged in the Kenya Vision 2030. In particular we, as engineers must be prepared to address the issue of infrastructure development for the many counties in order to facilitate the achievement of the Vision 2030 for the counties and indeed for the nation at large.

We are for example expected to address the issue of public utilities (which include electric power, telecommunications, water supply and sanitation, sewerage and waste disposal); public works (which includes irrigation systems, schools, housing and hospitals); transport services (which include roads, railways, ports, waterways, airports and pipelines) and research and development facilities.

We know that the three critical elements which contributed to the rapid economic growth of the South East Asian countries (i.e. Asian Tigers) included;

Provision of basic infrastructure, including roads, schools, water, sanitation, irrigation, health care, energy and telecommunications.

Development of small and medium-size enterprises that supply goods and services to the agriculture and natural resources sectors.

Government support and funding

to establish and nurture academies of engineering and technological sciences, professional engineering and technological associations, and industrial and trade associations. I t i s t o be no ted tha t the se human resource and supporting institutional frameworks spur sector wide innovations in development processes.

Again we know that a nations ability to solve problems and initiate and sustain economic growth is heavily dependent on the nations capabilities in science, technology and innovation. We also acknowledge that scientific and technical capabilities determine the ability to provide such services like clean water, good health care, adequate infrastructure and safe food.

As engineers we know that we need to develop a science, technology and innovation policy which is underpinned by well-designed measures for addressing

President Kenyatta listens as hes shown a model of a proposed building plan during ground breaking of New Macjhakos City development project

by Prof. Francis John Gichaga,UON


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such issues as learning, research and development and the diffusion, transfer and commercialization of technology.

It is important to recognize that todays global trends are towards knowledge based economies whereby research institutions must collaborate with industries and work in partnership. There is indeed need for public-private partnerships and collaboration between the government, the universities and research institutions and the industries including the many types of enterprises to achieve higher rate of economic growth. In the area of industrial development we must acknowledge that currently our country heavily relies on imported products some of which could be produced locally. This underpins the need to encourage engineers particularly those working in research oriented institutions/sections, to carry out research leading to development of products that can be sellable locally and internationally. In doing so engineers are required to work closely with the industry in order to influence the adoption of technology that adds value to the locally produced raw materials. This is indeed what we understand by industrialization, which in our case implies that we, as a country, should invest in relevant technology which can be utilized to process the natural resources including raw materials to convert such resources and raw materials into sellable products both locally and internally and competitively.

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Documents

nonmanufacturing sector

engineers board of kenya

kenya engineer magazine

editorial board

institution of engineers

private sector players

local engineers

economic growth