KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 1

2 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019

CONSORTIUM LIMITED

Road Rail Airport Work

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KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 3
Contents

7 8

14 15
7. News
The ICT Authority Reviewing ICT Standards…………………………………………………………………………………….7

Cybersecurity meeting calls for expedition of Data Protection Bill and investments in more professionals……………..8

Bernard Ngugi appointed new Kenya Power MD…………………………………………………………………………………9

Increased investments push growth in ICT sector to catalyze Big 4 Agenda, report shows…………………………………..10

Gikomba Market Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………………….11

2019 Africa Investment Forum: Achieving an African economy four

times bigger with only a 50% increase in energy demand…………………………………………………………………12

Orange and itel launch the 4G version of Sanza to generalise mobile internet access in Africa……………………………………13

The Position Statement adopted from the pre-conference which was presented during
the 3rd National Conference on Curriculum Reforms….…………………………………………………………………….14

Sheffield Launches Steam Based Cooking Solution………………………………………………………………………….16

4 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019

22 34

38 44

22. Interview
KIHBT Bridging the Technical Skill Gap in the Infrastructure Sector.................................................................................22

Schneider Electric Pushing the Limits of Innovation in Energy Management and Automation........................................34

28. Features
A Pedestrian Approach To Nuclear Energy and Safety Implications To Kenya..................................................................28

Post-Tensioning for Stronger, More Durable and Economical Structures.........................................................................38

Smartphone as a device for managing and monitoring Environment in an IoT network.......................................................42

Compressive Strength Prediction Models For Sugar Cane Baggase Ash Concrete.............................................................44

KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 5

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

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019

Editorial Board
Editor’s Note
M Kashorda Chairperson

I
F W Ngokonyo Vice Chairperson
n our Last(July-August) Issue of Kenya Engineer,
N O Booker Secretary
we featured an Interview with Prof. Japheth
M Kachieng’a
A W Otsieno
Onyando, the dean faculty of Engineering at
J Mutulili Egerton University. He spoke about, among
J N Kariuki other things, the importance of middle level skills
M Majiwa in the engineering industry. In this(September –
J Tanui October) issue, we have a chat with Eng. Nabendi
T Washika , the director of Kenya Institute of Highway and
L Boruett
Building Technology. He discusses the importance
of middle level skills and how KIHBT is bridging
General Manager
Samuel Eyinda
that gap for Kenya.

Editorial Director Meanwhile, Infrastructure remains at the core of the Kenyan Governments Big Four
Booker Ngesa Agenda. All the four items on the Agenda rely heavily on Engineers putting in place the
right infrastructure. In this issue, our writes discuss various aspects of infrastructure in the
Finance Adviser structures, construction and energy subsectors;
Jacinta Kamau
Roderick Obeja, a civil Engineer at Questworks discusses Post-tensioning(PT) for stronger,
Design & Layout
more durable economical structures highlighting superior advantages provided by PT
Ezekiel Abuko
including; longer spans, reduced structural depths, water tight elements, crack free slabs
Sales & Marketing improved deflection control among others. Aggrey Shitsukane on the other hand discusses
Gloria Muguchu a smartphone as a device for managing and monitoring environment in an IOT network.
Kerina Isaac He concludes that amalgamation of Smartphone embedded sensors as well as being used
Maureen Akoth as gateway to cloud has great potential for success.
Veronica Ng’endo
We feature a discussion on a pedestraian approach to Nuclear Energy and safety implications
Administrative Support
to Kenya by Eng. Benedict Mutunga. Eng. Mutunga advises that Kenya should fully develop
Steve Ogilo
all other renewable energy sources before adopting atomic energy. We also feature a
Susan Nduta
discussion on the comprehensive prediction models for Sugar cane baggase Ash concrete
Published by: by Dr. Eng. Kennedy Aburili of Nzoia Sugar Company Limited.

In this issue, We have also published an interview with Edouard Heripret, the general
manager for Schneider Electric in east Africa.

We hope that you do have a pleasant read. Do not hesitate to share you feedback via the
INTERCONTINENTAL provided email addresses.
Publishers LTD
P O Box 45754-00100 Nairobi
Our next issue will focus on Transport and Infrastructure.
Tel: +254 20 4443649/72
Cell: +254 719 207 712
Email: info@kenyaengineer.co.ke MeoliKashorda, PhD,MIEE, MIET
managingeditor@kenyaengineer.co.ke
Editorial Board Chairman,
Correspondence should be addressed to Kenya Engineer Journal
the publisher. Kenya Engineer is published
every two months. Views expressed in this
Copyright © 2017: Reproduction of any article in part or in full is strictly prohibited without
Journal are those of the writers and do not
written permission from the Institution of Engineers of Kenya. Disclaimer: To our readers,
necessarily reflect those of the Institution.
verify all the advertised courses with Engineers Board of Kenya.

6 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019


The ICT Authority Reviewing ICT Standards
T
he ICT Authority, in line with its
mandate, is reviewing the country’s
ICT Standards with a view of
protecting public infrastructure
and systems, streamlining the ICT sector and
protecting the interests of ordinary Kenyans,
especially during procurement of ICT goods
and services by government agencies.
Speaking at the end of a three- day workshop to
finalize on the ICT Standards in Naivasha today,
the ICT Authority CEO, Dr. Katherine Getao said:
“Standards are very important because they
help us understand the quality of goods and
services that we should expect from our
providers. For the ICT industry, there is need
for ICT Standards to guide the development
of systems, applications, infrastructure and
devices. Standards protect the public, facilitate
harmonization and integration of systems
and set the pace for ICT implementation”
Dr Getao also asked the experts to have the
ordinary citizen in mind as they develop
frameworks so that support and do not inhibit
their innovations. The CEO noted that many
software developers are ordinary citizens
who may not have resources to go through
very expensive certification requirements.
She asked the team to see to it that the ICT
governance standard shall help us to monitor,
evaluate and make good decisions regarding
the people, technology, methodologies
and services that run the ICT sector.
This workshop is the final one of many
stakeholder engagement forums that the
ICT Authority has carried out since last year
to develop the second edition of the ICT
Standards. So far, over 300 Heads of the
ICT function in both national and county
governments have participated in the process.
The review of the Standards is in response
to emerging technology and the need to
improve the governance of the ICT sector.
One of the issues that has emerged is the
need to register and license ICT professionals.
This will be done in collaboration with
training Institutions and professional bodies.
The country has recently witnessed
increased cybercrime and through the ICT
Standards, the ICT Authority is addressing
the issues of training, certification and
ethics that touch on ICT professionals.
The reviewed ICT Standards will also address
the areas of ICT infrastructure, Software
NEWS
development, Electronic records and data
management. With these Standards in place
the government will efficiently and effectively
offer IT enabled services and achieve value for
investments in ICT and more secure government
systems. Ordinary users should also access
better, more usable products as a result of
the application of the reviewed standards.
In total, there are nine ICT Standards that
cover the areas of governance, applications,
capacity. There has also been a call from the
sector to include emerging technologies such
as IoT and blockchain usage in the country.
The retreat in Naivasha has drawn experts
from the New KCC, National Irrigation Board,
Commission for Revenue Allocation, Bungoma
County Government, KEMSA, Controller of
Budget, Ministry of Health, State Department
of Trade & Industry, the Kenya Wildlife
Service and the Kenya Revenue Authority
who were chosen by over 300 Heads of
the ICT function to represent them in the
inter-agency committee that is reviewing the
ICT Standards. Other ICT Authority officers
in attendance include Paul Ronoh, Joshua
Muiruri and Thomas Odhiambo.
KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 7
 NEWS
Cybersecurity meeting calls for expedition of Data Protection
Bill and investments in more professionals
I
ncreased investment in professionals with
cybersecurity skillsets and expedition
of the Data Protection Bill is needed to
enhance the fight against cybercrime in
the country.
Various speakers made the observations
during the opening of a three-day National
Cybersecurity 2019 Conference organized
by Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).
The summit is part of the ongoing Global
Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October.
Lack of cybersecurity skillsets was cited as a
major risk that makes government institutions,
individuals and Kenyan businesses easy target
for both local and international hackers
by hampering the cybercrime analysis,
prevention, detection and prosecution, which
is a big hurdle.
Several researches have put the number
of cybercrime professionals in the country
between 16,000 and 17,000, against 52
8 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019
million mobile subscriptions, 49 million
data subscriptions and 32 million registered
mobile money users.
The need to expedite the enactment of the
Data Protection Bill, currently undergoing
public hearing comes on the backdrop
of increased cyber threats in the country.
According to CA’s quarterly sector statistics
for three months to June 2019, the number
of cyber threats increased to 26.6 million up
from 11.25 million translating to 136.4 per
cent increase.
“You may be aware that the Data Protection
Bill is under discussion and once enacted
into law, it will help ensure consumer data is
safeguarded against misuse. This will mark a
big step in enhancing consumer confidence
and trust in the use of ICT services, which
we as a government greatly rely on to serve
‘mwananchi,” Dr Fred Matiang’i, the CS
Ministry of Interior and Coordination of
National Government said in a speech read
on his behalf by Jerome Ochieng, the PS,
State Department on Innovation and ICT.
CA acting Director General Mercy Wanjau
said the growing number of threats must be
checked.
“The situation calls for a paradigm shift in how
organizations model their security strategies
in a manner that gives increased priority to
the security of their ICT ecosystems. If not
well protected they stare at a huge risk of
reputational damage, operational downtime
and massive recovery costs associated with
cyber attacks,” she noted.
The collection of data continues to rise with
the fast industry developments, including
Big data, Internet of Things, and many other
emerging technologies.
At a policy level, the government is committed
 NEWS

to creating enabling laws and regulations

that will guide the sector. Most recently, the Bernard Ngugi appointed new Kenya
Power MD
Government enacted the Computer Misuse
and Cyber Crimes Act, although some
aspects of the Act have been challenged
in court, this law will go a long way in
protecting Kenyans from misuse of ICT
infrastructure and services.

The government also continues to enhance

its collaboration framework with various
local and international partners in order
to strengthen the cybersecurity regulatory
framework, and ultimately to facilitate the
expeditious resolution of cybercrime and
related activities.

Efforts are always on to harmonize

Kenya’s Policy and Legal framework
on Cybersecurity with international
instruments. The government is currently
reviewing the ICT Policy, National
Cybersecurity Strategy and legislative
instruments to align to international
standards.
Kenya’s electricity distributor Kenya Power “My immediate focus is to lead the
has appointed Bernard Ngugi to head the Company towards improved profitability
In order to enhance the security of Kenya’s
NSE listed company as Managing Director while ensuring the business fulfills its socio-
cyber space, the government through CA
and Chief Executive Officer. economic purpose. This will be achieved
has continued to operate the National
by implementing our 5 Year Strategic Plan
Kenya Computer Incident Response Team
Ngugi, has been the utility firm’s General that broadly aims at delivering excellent
– Coordination Centre (KE-CIRT/CC) for
Manager in charge of Supply Chain, takes over customer service and ensuring our business
coordination and response to cyber threats
from Jared Othieno, who has been serving sustainability,” Ngugi said. The position fell
in the country.
on an capacity since July 2018. vacant after Ben Chumo’s three-year reign as
CEO ended in January 2017 after his bid for a
The National KE-CIRT/CC is also Kenya’s
The board’s Chairperson Mahboub Malim second three-year term was thwarted through
national point of contact for cyber security
Mohammed described Ngugi as the “best a court order which barred Kenya Power
matters. Given the nature of the cyber
fit for the job, owing to his financial and from renewing his tenure at the company.
space, the National KE-CIRT/CC works in
revenue accounting expertise.”
collaboration with various stakeholders
The utility company appointed a caretaker
at the national level including law
He will take the company to the next level, management team last year, which included
enforcement, the private sector, academia,
Mohammed said. Jared Othieno as acting chief executive after
the financial sector, and civil society,
Ngugi is a Certified Public Accountant of Othieno’s predecessors Ken Tarus, Ben Chumo
among others.
Kenya and a member of the Institute of and other company officials were arrested and
Certified Public Accountants of Kenya. charged over alleged irregular procurement
Kenya was ranked second in the Africa
for supply of transformers.
region, and 44th globally by the Global
He is also a Certified Public Secretary of Kenya
Cybersecurity Index (GCI).  The GCI
and a member of the Institute of Certified The company recently extended the caretaker
measures the commitment of countries
Public Secretaries of Kenya. management team’s tenure by four months
to cybersecurity at a global level using
pending restructuring of top management.
four dimensions, including Capacity
Commenting on his new appointment, Ngugi “I’d like to thank Othieno and his team for
Building; Technical; Organizational Legal
promised to steer the company towards steering the company in the direction that it
and Cooperation.  The country has four
profitability. did and for a job well done,” Mohammed said.
sector CIRTs and one National CIRT.

KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 9

 NEWS
Increased investments push growth in ICT sector to catalyze
Big 4 Agenda, report shows
Mr Jerome Ochieng, PS, Kenya Ministry of ICT, giving his keynote speech at the world AI show Nairobi.
I
ncreased investments are pushing the
growth of the ICT sector, with the industry
set to catalyze the realization of the
Government’s Big 4 Agenda, the latest
sector report by the Authority.
The report covering April-June 2019 shows
investments in mobile sub-sector grew from
KSh.41.5 billion in 2017 to KSh.57.5 billion
in 2018. Subsequently, the service revenue
from the mobile sub-sector grew by 9.4
percent to record KSh. 270.5 billion in 2018.
This positive outlook is further buttressed by
the  Economic Survey Report 2019 indicating
the value of the ICT Sector grew by 12.9
percent in 2018 to reach KSh.390.2 billion
up from KSh.345.6 billion recorded in 2017.
Voice services continue to command the lion’s
share of the mobile services at 39 percent
followed by other services, which include
mobile money services, interconnection
and roaming at 33 percent while the  SMS
revenue recorded the least share at 8 percent.
Safaricom PLC recorded the highest revenue
share for all mobile services, whereas Finserve
Ltd recorded the least revenue share in 2018.
10 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019
In terms of employment in the mobile sub- sub-domain recording the highest number of
sector , the number of people absorbed users while MOBI.KE recorded the least users.
increased from 7,016 in June 2018 to 8,689 in In the broadcating sector, there was a marginal
June 2019 with the ratio of males to females increase in the number of Free-to-Air TV
standing at 3:2. stations which grew by 6.3 percent to record
86 stations from 81 stations recorded in
The report also shows the number of data/ the previous period. However, digital TV
Internet subscriptions stood at 49.9 million subscriptions declined by 7.1 per cent to
with 99.9 percent being on mobile data. This 5.4 million during the quarter under review.
has been attributed to favourable government ”The wane in subscriptions for digital TV is
policies and dynamic digital scene. ”For attributed to the increased uptake of streaming
instance, the rapid growth in mobile and services especially among younger consumers,
Internet networks has created opportunities for as more homes get connected devices,”
development and deployment of innovations indicates the report. The number of radio
and e-commerce,” the report states in part. stations remained unchanged at 173.
In mobile money transfer servies, 810.9
million transactions valued at KSh.2.1 trillion The report also shows that the number of
were recorded during the quarter. Similarly, cyber threats increased two fold to stand
a total of 591.1 million transactions valued at 26.6 million compared to 11.3 million
at KSh.1.9 trillion were made through the incidents in the previous quarter. The spike 
mobile payment platforms (Paybill and Till is as a result of the global increase in malware
Numbers) while  person-to-person transfers including ransomware.
were valued at KSh.770.9 billion.
The continued uptake of e-commerce also
The number of .KE domains increased to  saw a subsequent 22.2 percent increase in
87,807 up from 83,915 domains reported as the numbe rof courier items sent during the
at the end of March 2019 with the .CO.KE period to 885,862 items.
 NEWS

Road Dualling; Gikomba Market Construction

Lamu port to Lamu-
Witu-Garsen
The dualling of the road connecting the
Lamu Port to the Lamu-Witu-Garsen road
is on-going. The 10-km dual-carriage that
will link the port which is part of the Lamu
Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia (LAPSSET) is nearly
half-way complete.

Upon completion, the road will ease transport

to and from the Lamu deep seaport that has
the capacity to dock some of the world’s

largest cargo ships and oil tankers.
The project is providing employment
opportunities to local youths and Kenyans
drawn from other parts of the country who
are providing both skilled and semi-skilled
labour.
The road will further complement the National
Government efforts to position Lamu as an
important regional and international trading
port and to open up the region to greater
opportunities for commerce and trade
T
he construction of the Ksh 493M
Gikomba Quarry Road Market
Block ‘A’ in Nairobi City County
that began in February 2019 is
42% complete. So far, out of the 6 floors,
the contractor has constructed 3 with works
ongoing on the 4th.
Upon completion, the market will host
over 2000 traders including fishmongers
and tailors. Other businesses to be hosted
are restaurants, ICT shops and management
offices. Additionally, the market will provide
adequate security and sanitation facilities
while allowing ease of movement for both
traders and customers in and out of the facility.
The Gikomba Quarry Road Market Block
‘A’ that is expected to be complete by
March next year is in fulfillment of President
Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive that the National
Government puts up a market to accommodate
Gikomba traders enabling their businesses
to flourish

Expansion of Njukini Irrigation Project

T
he National Government is investing
in expanding the Njukini Irrigation
Project located in Taita Taveta
County to raise the number of farmers
benefiting from the project from the current
710 to 1000.

The ongoing Ksh 19M improvement works entail

the construction of a wall along the Njukini
Springs to protect it from livestock, soil erosion
and illegal water harvesters. Further, a 1.8KM
canal will be extended from the spring to boost
the total acreage under irrigation.

The project which was operationalized in 2013

has benefitted 349 farms covering 340 acres. This
has seen farmers benefit from the growing and
selling of various crops in large scale including
maize, beans, onions, cabbages, water melons
and tomatoes.

KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 11

 NEWS
2019 Africa Investment Forum: Achieving an African economy
four times bigger with only a 50% increase in energy demand
The Africa Investment Forum (AIF) brings
together project sponsors and investors,
borrowers, lenders, policy makers and public
and private sector investors
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, November
12, 2019/ -- Africa has the potential to expand
the continental economy fourfold, with energy
demands expanding by only 50 percent,
according to a new report. The International
Energy Agency (IEA) unveiled its report on
the first day of the second African Investment
Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Africa Energy Outlook 2019 found that the
continent’s future energy prospects look bright,
but only if Governments can make the shift to
more renewable energy sources. The report
says there are three factors that will determine
the continent’s future energy consumption -
its growing population, the rapid increase in
urbanisation and industrialisation.
12 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019
Kieran McNamara, an analyst at IEA, noted
that these will have “profound effects on
Africa’s energy mix and how the economy
develops.”
The IEA has for the first time conducted
detailed modelling of the energy mix for
11 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, namely
Angola, South Africa, Democratic Republic
of Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Côte
d’Ivoire, Mozambique, Nigeria and Senegal.
The projected energy mix needed for Africa
will be very different from the current one,
with countries moving away from biomass and
fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy.
About 600-million Africans have no access to
electricity, although this has improved since
2013, according to IEA’s analysis. “In order
to start to address the problem, we have to
realize the scale of the emergency. And that
data is extremely important. You have to be
able to define the problem before you can
actually address it,” said Wale Shonibare,
Acting Vice President of Power, Energy,
Climate and Green Growth.
Africa also needs to radically increase its
investment in power generation from the
current $30-billion to $120-billion by 2040, if
it is to achieve universal access to electricity,
according to Tae-Yoon Kim, another analyst
at IEA.
If countries on the continent do not change
current policies on energy use, Africa will
not achieve the African Development Bank’s
target of universal electricity by 2030.
But with improved policies, Africa can see
the continental economy expand four times
with matching energy demand that is only
50 percent greater than the current demand.
Kenya is one country where universal access to

electricity could become a reality
by 2022, if it continues with its
current policy that has brought a
large amount of renewables into
the energy mix. Ethiopia could
follow suit towards the end of
the decade.
The African Development Bank and
the IEA, an autonomous agency
aiming to improve the world’s
energy markets, participated in a
high-level side event during the
African Investment Forum 2019.
Other participants included the
European Commission, the African
Union Commission and the African
Energy Commission.
Discussions were based on the
African Development Bank’s
“Light Up and Power Africa”
strategy, through which the bank
hopes to build knowledge of the
African energy sector, and assist
in achieving universal access
to electricity on the continent.
Governments, utilities, regulators
and investors will hopefully use
this knowledge to help them grow
energy sectors, while reducing
costs. The availability of quality
data will improve African countries’
abilities to make informed energy
policy decisions and to provide
private investors with valuable
market analysis.
Through the New Deal on Energy
for Africa (NDEA), the Bank has
positioned itself to lead Africa’s
energy transformation. The NDEA
is a partnership-driven effort
launched in 2016, which aims
to achieve universal access to
electricity in Africa by 2025.
The Africa Investment Forum (AIF)
brings together project sponsors
and investors, borrowers, lenders,
policy makers and public and
private sector investors, to promote
Africa’s investment opportunities.
Orange and itel launch the 4G version of Sanza
to generalise mobile internet access in Africa
From December 2019, this mobile phone
with voice recognition functionalities will be
on offer for around 28 US dollars in seven
countries in Africa and the Middle-East
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, November 12, 2019/
-- At the AfricaCom international congress, Orange
(Orange.com) is partnering with itel (itel-mobile.
com), the leading mobile brand in Africa and,
once again, with KaiOS Technologies, maker of
the leading operating system for smart feature
phone KaiOS, to launch a new 4G version of
the Sanza Phone, “Sanza XL”. From December
2019, this mobile phone with voice recognition
functionalities will be on offer for around 28
US dollars in seven countries in Africa and the
Middle-East: Botswana, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire,
Egypt, Jordan, Mali and Senegal. Other Orange
Group countries will follow in 2020.
The simplicity of a feature phone combined with
the advanced functionality of a smartphone, at
an affordable price
The Sanza XL has a bigger screen than the Sanza
at 2.8’, an improved 2 Megapixel camera, 4 GB of
internal memory for more storage and high-speed
4G access, while retaining excellent battery life
of up to 7 days depending on usage.
The device enables access to over two hundred
essential applications, including: WhatsApp to
NEWS
send voice messages in any language, Boomplay,
YouTube, Facebook and the Google Assistant to
control certain device functions with your voice.
Orange applications will also be available on
the phone: My Orange, Orange Money and
Livescreen to enable users to keep up-to-date
on their favourite topics.
In Africa, price is often an obstacle to purchasing
a mobile phone and, by extension, accessing the
internet. This is why the Sanza XL will be on sale
for around 28 USD and will be progressively
launched in 7 countries, followed by the other
Orange Group countries in 2020. By extending
the Sanza range with the Sanza XL, Orange, a
champion of digital inclusion in Africa and the
Middle East, is reasserting its commitment to
supporting its customers and offering internet
access for all.
Orange is present in 19 countries in Africa and the
Middle East and has around 125 million customers
as of 30 September 2019. With revenues of 5.2
billion euros in 2018, this area is a strategic
priority for the Group. Orange Money, its mobile-
based money transfer and financial services offer
is available in 17 countries and has 45 million
customers. Orange, a multi-service operator and
benchmark partner of the digital transformation,
provides its expertise to support the development of
new digital services in Africa and the Middle East.
KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 13
 NEWS
The Position Statement adopted from the pre-conference which
was presented during the 3rd National Conference on Curriculum
Reforms.
Theme: ‘Enhancing inclusion through
ICT Integration in Education.’
E
Introduction
ducation is an indispensable part of
any modern society. The education
sector is being transformed by
various factors such as emerging
technology innovation, learners’ mobility and
regulations. With ease access to internet, the
field of education has to grab opportunities
for teaching, content delivery of educational
material in form of digital learning and the
affordability of the digital gadgets. The future
of digital economy is also driven by the
emerging technology advancement and this
has led to global competition for organizations
in the way they do businesses and operate.
The key stakeholders advocate that Kenya
should fully embrace the use of ICT in
14 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019
Education to achieve Vision 2030 and
commit to realizing Sustainable Development
Goals that emphasizes the access to
relevant, quality and equitable education.
The ICT Authority, in conjunction with KICD,
held a pre-conference workshop on 14th
August 2019, discussing ICT as an enabler of
the Competency Based Curriculum. The theme
of the pre-conference workshop was “enhance
inclusion through ICT integration in education.”
The pre-conference covered 4 thematic areas
which were;
1. Content – the panel discussed various
ways of developing and delivering interactive
digital content to all learners.
2. Teachers Capacity – the panel discussed
various efforts, ways and what needs to be
done to ensure continuous teachers capacity
development.
3. Infrastructure – the panel discussed the
availability of having a robust, reliable and
scalable Infrastructure (Digital devices in
school, classrooms, broadband connectivity,
emerging technologies and Power Connection
among others) which will support sustainability
of the long-life education provision.
4. Best Practices for ICT utilization in Education
and Sustainability – the panel discussed the
best practices in education technology
Stakeholders stated as follows:
1. We, as the fraternity of ICT, using the
hashtag, #ICT4CBCKENYA2019, in Kenya
commit to the successful and sustainable

implementation of the Competency Based
Curriculum. As a forum of policy makers,
teachers, digital content developers,
researchers, youth, development partners,
civil society and private sector, we met at the
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development
(KICD) on Wednesday, 14th August 2019 at
the Pre-conference on ‘Enhancing Inclusion
through ICT Integration in Education’, with
three objectives: To facilitate collective
engagement to improve shared understanding
for better implementation, Posit evidence
based proposals to support the curriculum
reforms, and Agree on a position statement
to steer expansion of CBC to Grade 4 and
beyond for presentation to the 3rd National
Conference on Curriculum Reforms.
2. We note that in line with Kenya Vision
2030, the Constitution of Kenya, our national
and international commitments, our country
is poised for transformation into a Knowledge
Society by investing in ICTs.
3. We acknowledge government’s efforts
in providing appropriate infrastructure in
schools, an important ingredient in the
provision of quality education as it delivers
the Competency Based Curriculum. We
appreciate that the government has provided
electricity to 95 % of public schools,
that interactive digital content has been
availed for Grade 1 and 2 and that the
Kenya Education Cloud is operational. We
appreciate that digital devices have been
delivered to 92 % of the public primary
schools. Additionally, capacity building of
teachers on Competency Based Curriculum
has covered over 110,000 teachers and is
on-going. Finally, we acknowledge that the
local assemble of digital devices for Digital
Literacy is being undertaken by two of
our public universities. We appreciate the
contribution of our development partners
towards ICT in Education.
4. We request that Government through the
Ministry of Education, Ministry of ICT, Ministry
of Energy, Ministry of Industrialization,
Teachers Service Commission, Kenya Institute
of Curriculum Development, ICT Authority
and Rural Electrification Authority among
NEWS
other state players continue to address
any and all challenges experienced during
Construction of
implementation of CBC. We recognize
that Digital Literacy is one of the core
Sigowet-Chepkemel-
competencies in CBC, and indeed is an
enabler in the successful implementation
Kiptere-Kapsorok-
of CBC. Soko Huru roads
5. We recommend to government five
immediate strategies to enhance inclusion
in ICT in Education:
5.1. Provision of robust, reliable and scalable
infrastructure to support ICT integration in
the classroom: appropriate digital devices
in 100% of schools by 2020, broadband
connectivity-with necessary safeguards
in 85% of schools by 2021, and 100%
schools connected to the national power
grid or renewable energy sources by 2020
for sustainable utilization of Information
The on-going construction and maintenance of
communication Technology.
the Sigowet-Chepkemel-Kiptere-Kapsorok-Soko
Huru roads in Kericho County. The project
5.2. Delivery of adequate and appropriate
that is funded by the National Government of
digital content and learning tools for all
Kenya through the Kenya Rural Roads Authority
grades by 2022 that is accessible for all
(KERRA) involves the upgrading of the 30-KM
special need’s learners and mainstream
road to bitumen standards. So far, 29 out of
learners alike to ensure equity and inclusion.
the 30 kilometers have been completed and
have already been opened up to the public
5.3. Development of 100% of teacher
use. The road is expected to be a major boost
capacity by 2022 by sustainable approaches
to transport in the agricultural-rich Kericho
such as promotion of teacher professional
and neighbouring counties
development in ICT to advance digital
literacy and collaborative learning.
Construction of
5.4. Establishment of effective monitoring
and evaluation systems by 2020, effective
the Chebarbar-
research and development approaches
that generate and disseminate data on
Kapsabet-Nandi Hills
inclusion, and that links this evidence to is close to completion.
policy decisions
5.5. Development of Policy frameworks The 19-KM road that is funded by the National
that promote linkage of education and ICT, Government through the fuel levy commences
guide in implementation and encourage at Chebarbar junction and terminates at
collaboration and partnerships with the Nandi hills town in Nandi County. The Kenya
private sector by 2020. National Highway Authority is supervising the
construction.
6. At this 3rd National Conference on
Education Reform, the fraternity of ICT By easing transport within Nandi and
in Kenya impresses on the government to neighbouring counties, the road will open
commit to these five interventions, as part up the area to more economic and social
of the ongoing curriculum reform. interactions.
KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 15
 NEWS
Sheffield Launches Steam Based Cooking Solution
C
Left to right: The Managing Director of ommercial kitchen solution
Sheffield Africa, Mr. Suresh Kanotra, The
Chairman of Rajalakshmi Mr. M.S Ragavendra provider Sheffield Africa on 26th
and Head of Marketing and Strategy, Mr. September officially launched
Vikas Sharma of Sheffield Africa. steam based cooking into the East
African market. The two day event brought
together stakeholders from various institutions
and establishments who are in need of bulk
cooking. These include community centers,
academic institutions, healthcare institutions,
NGOs and army canteens.
The event which took place at the Sheffield
Africa Training Academy involved practical
demonstrations of the steam cooking
16 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019
system and its benefits to users and the
environment. Participants were taken through
the advantages that this new system brings
over conventional cooking methods such as
firewood and LPG gas.
The steam cookers that were launched consist
of two main parts, the steam generator and
the cooking vessels. The steam generator, also
called a boiler, converts water into steam and
injects the same into the vessels at regulated
pressure for cooking.
The cooking vessels are connected in a row
 NEWS

and receive pressurized steam from the

boiler for cooking of food. These vessels
are of two types; the direct injection vessels
and the double jacketed vessels.

The direct injection vessels allow the steam

to get in contact with the food being cooked
and are usually used for cooking food
stuff such as steamed rice, vegetables and
potatoes.

The double jacketed vessels do not allow

the steam to come in contact with the food
being cooked. These vessels are meant for
cooking of food which require addition of
oil and spices where direct steaming would
be inappropriate.

Steam based cooking systems are much

quicker than conventional firewood based
cooking systems which is a common means
of cooking in Kenya. They are more efficient The Steam Based Cooking Solution Set Up with Steam Boiler and Connected Vessels

and preserve more nutrients in food while

eliminating the dangers of wood smoke.

The risk of kitchen fires is also considerably

reduced with the use of steam based systems
because there is no direct fire. The system
also easy to clean and maintain as it is
entirely made of food safe , 304 stainless
steel grade.
Sheffield Africa has partnered with
Rajalakshmi, an Indian company with
experience in manufacturing of steam
boilers and vessels to install the Steam Based
Systems in Kenya. Already 350 units have
been installed and are fully functioning in
various institutions and restaurants across
the country.

Present at the event was the Managing

Director of Sheffield Africa, Mr. Suresh
Kanotra together with the Chairman of
Rajalakshmi Mr. M.S. Ragavendra among
other invited guests.
Sheffield Chefs serving the guests with delicacies from the RATIONAL SCC

KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 17

 NEWS

African Energy Chamber and Organization of Petroleum

Exporting Countries (OPEC) Discuss Technical Cooperation at
Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference
(ADIPEC)

T
he Chamber will be assisting in the
organization of an OPEC Technical
Workshop in Dakar in early 2020
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates,
November 12, 2019/ -- A team of the African
Energy Chamber (https://EnergyChamber.org/)
led by Executive Chairman Nj Ayuk met with
the Secretary General of the Organization
of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
H.E. Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo today
in Abu Dhabi. Both parties discussed the
sharing of best industry practices and technical
cooperation with new and upcoming African
oil producers.
Given the increasing number of African
producers who have rejoined OPEC, and
the strong support of non-OPEC African
nations for the Declaration of Cooperation,
both parties agreed on the opportunity to
strengthen the technical dialogue between
OPEC and Africa.
In order to cement OPEC’s engagement
with new and upcoming producers, the
Chamber will be assisting in the organization
of an OPEC Technical Workshop in Dakar in
early 2020, which will be open to regional
technicians from ministries and national
oil companies. “As OPEC expands, it is
important to open its technical meetings and
workshops to non-member countries who
could potentially join the Organization later,”
explained Nj Ayuk, Executive Chairman at
the African Energy Chamber and CEO of the
Centurion Law Group.
H.E. Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo welcomed
the initiative as a very timely one, insisting
that now is the right time for countries such
as Senegal to engage with OPEC and the
global oil industry. “Such technical workshops
can establish a framework for the long-term
sharing of best industry practices for new
African producers. They ultimately benefit the
development of transparent and sustainable
industries, this is good for Africa and Africans.”

18 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019


Screw blowers for wastewater treatment
Respect for the environment
Author: Dipl. Betriebswirtin Daniela Koehler, Press Officer, Kaeser Kompressoren SE
The Treis Karden wastewater treatment plant opted for trial installation of an FBS screw blower to replace the previous rotary blowers.
T
he regional municipality of
Cochem in Germany operates
a highly innovative network
of wastewater treatment plants
and is always looking for new ways to
improve efficiency whilst also respecting
the environment. With the help of a new
screw blower in the town of Treis Karden,
purified water flows continuously into
the Mosel river at an astonishing rate of
344 litres per second – all with a reduced
burden on the municipal coffers.
The wastewater treatment plant in Treis
Karden is a Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR),
a configuration in which the wastewater is
processed in batches. Each cycle takes place
in a basin filled to around 5.5 metres and lasts
for some 300 minutes at physical pressures of
around 570 mbar. Another challenging aspect
of this particular application is the dramatic
variation in the volume of wastewater over
the different seasons of the year. In the
summer months, the flood of tourists and
many local vintners generate significant
volumes, whilst much less is generated during
the winter months. To accommodate this,
the pressure varies between 480 and 570
AIR COMPRESSORS
mbar (g) depending on the water level in
the SBR plant.
Previously the Treis Karden wastewater plant
used rotary blowers – a solution with which
the operators were very satisfied. At six metres,
the depth of the treatment plant basin is
essentially average for such applications. This
is advantageous since the optimal depth for
air injection is about five metres. Although
the previous equipment performed well,
the innovative design and technology of
the new recently launched screw blower
are now delivering significant energy cost
KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 19
 AIR COMPRESSORS
savings and reduced sound emission levels
in comparison.
Considerable cost advantages
When the time came to replace the older
rotary blowers, the regional municipality of
Cochem therefore opted for trial installation
of a new FBS-type screw blower with a free
air delivery of 67 m³/min. The unit itself
features a blower airend with initial pressure
of 650 mbar, which integrates perfectly with
the rest of the wastewater treatment system.
As mentioned above, the new screw blower
boasts a range of impressive advantages.
Compared to conventional rotary blowers,
it delivers up to 35 percent better efficiency
– depending on operating conditions. At
the same time, this new technology offers
significant energy advantages compared to
many screw and turbo blowers available on
the market. These energy savings are largely
achieved by the internal initial pressure of
the screw blower which already closely
approximates the system pressure.
This reliably avoids the phenomenon known
as “over compression”. This results when
20 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019
screw blowers produce higher pressures
than which will ever be required by the
wastewater treatment plant and is caused
by the internal geometry of the unit. In such
unfortunate cases, the energy advantage of the
screw compression method is lessened, or in
worst case scenarios, is negated completely.
Long-term efficiency
The rotors are not coated, which ensures
that efficiency remains constant, even after
years of use. The airend concept (patent
pending) offers yet more advantages to
enhance potential energy savings, whilst also
considerably boosting the specific power of
the system overall. One significant effect is
that even when operating at a lower speed,
the machine can still be operated more
effectively than with previously available
screw blowers – in other words, these new
screw blowers deliver a broader control
range than most other units on the market.
Moreover, the screw blowers are delivered
as a complete system. This means that the
blower system comes pre-equipped with the
integrated Sigma Control 2 controller as well
as all required control electronics, such as
a frequency converter. Installation is greatly
simplified since the frequency converter
is already pre-programmed and the entire
unit has undergone extensive testing and
inspection at the factory.
The controller additionally ensures constant
and comprehensive system monitoring whilst
simultaneously enabling straightforward
and cost-effective integration with the
wastewater treatment plant’s existing process
control systems. Such integration can be
accomplished either via conventional, floating
contacts or also via Profibus DP and Ethernet
connectivity. Since wastewater treatment
plants are already equipped with the latest
process controllers and support Profibus
DP, the screw blower unit concept meshes
seamlessly into the forward-looking operations
of the wastewater treatment plant. In short,
the easy installation and commissioning
procedures enable operators to take advantage
of even further cost savings.
Clever design
Furthermore, these screw blowers incorporate
a clever cooling concept that eliminates the

In the SBR plant, the wastewater is organically treated in various basins. For this process, the bacteria
require the oxygen contained in the water.
high energy consumption associated with
oil pumps and oil coolers, and their highly
effective sealing concept also ensures long-
term seal fastness – without a vacuum pump.
Dispensing with subsystems and oil circulation
lubrication additionally improves machine
durability and reliability. Optimal cooling and
efficiency are achieved by separate inlets for
the cooling and process air and by arranging
them outside of the enclosure. So, for the
same power consumption, this allows the
blower to deliver a greater usable air mass
flow. The blowers are also exceptionally
reliable and ensure extraordinary durability
– even with continuous operation. Intelligent
component layout enables unit installation
either against a wall or side-by-side with other
machines, which not only makes maintenance
AIR COMPRESSORS
convenient and cost-effective, but also
minimises installation space requirement.
In Treis Karden, the wastewater system had
been retrofitted with a sludge press which
partially blocks access to the basement area
where the blower system was to be installed.
This hurdle, combined with the fact that
it was not possible to decommission the
sludge press during plant operation, presented
no problem however, because the screw
blower’s modular design meant that it could
be separated into individual parts, and then
be reassembled and commissioned in the
installation room itself.
The results have been impressive, but since
the previously installed rotary blowers already
delivered relatively high energy cost savings
for their class and the water treatment plant
experiences fluctuating water levels, the
actual savings in this instance are not as
high as they potentially could be. Despite
the fluctuating water levels (with a maximum
counter pressure of 570 millibar) though,
impressive energy savings of up to 25 percent
compared to the rotary blowers have been
achieved during certain periods; the values
were measured and confirmed by a local
engineering firm.
KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 21
 INTERVIEW
KIHBT Bridging the Technical Skill Gap in the
Infrastructure Sector
E
ng. Nabendi is the man in charge
of the Kenya Institute of Highway
and Building Technology(KIHBT),
a middle level training institute
ensuring constant supply of technicians
and technologists for the Infrastructure sector.
He is a mechanical engineer by profession,
holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from
the University of Nairobi, has undergone
training specifically in the area of automotive
and mechanical plant and also holds an M.A
in planning and project management. The
Kenya Engineer Team had a chat with him
on the role of KIHBT in the industry.
As the director of KIHBT what are your
specific roles?
Like any other head of an institution, I’m
in charge of the day to day running of this
institution and ensuring that programs
prescribed under its mandate are implemented.
22 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019
Discussing the mandate of KIHBT
KIHBT dates back to colonial days before
independence. It started as low level
skills training center for Africans. Such
skills included plumbing, plant operators,
mechanics e.t.c. With time, in the runup to
independence, KIHBT took on an expanded
scope of training to include supervisory
courses to prepare Kenyans to take up certain
roles in government after independence.
What are some of the courses KIHBT is
currently offering?
We now have general technical training
courses and capacity building courses and this
is where our mandate is. We are the training
arm of the ministry, specifically the state
department of infrastructure with the mandate
of seeing to capacity building especially in
the infrastructure sector. Most of our courses
are biased towards the roads subsector but
we are capable of handling also the building
sub-sector. The other courses which I referred
to as technical training courses include Higher
National Diploma, Diploma and craft courses
in infrastructure related areas like architecture,
Civil Engineering, highways and buildings
technology.
What role does KIHBT play in the
Engineering sector?
For any country to develop you need
these middle level skills and KIHBT rose
to be involved largely in training after the
country went the direction of making every
institution a university and we subsequently
lost traction on the development of middle
level manpower in the fields of technology.
KIHBT came up to fill that gap because
Engineers need technicians and technologists
yet there reached a time when there was an
imbalance between professional engineers

on one side and technologists and technicians on the
other. KIHBT has been filling this gap appropriately
with a lot of emphasis on practical skills in whatever
area of concern. Remember we used to train staff to
take up jobs directly within the ministry so we have
continued with this approach to training.
What sort of recognition has KIHBT received so far?
We have earned a lot of interest from development
partners and other global institutions. One is JICA
which we partner with to a great extent. There is
also Africa Development Bank through the ministry
of Education. There is also World Bank which we
have entered into an arrangement with on a project
called East African Skills Transformation for Regional
Integration Project(EASTRIP).
What are some of the highway building technologies
being trained at KIHBT?
We have a number of them. We call them alternative
road paving technologies. They include; the mould
cell paving technology, the Low volume seal road
construction which is used in the 10,000km road
construction program which was initiated by the
government . The program aims to construct 2,000km
of roads every year bringing the total to 10,000km at
the end of five years. We also have Do-nou technology
which is Japanese technology. We also have cobblestone
paving technology. So we have programs we run for
skills in this particular paving technologies which
we pass on to other organizations we partner with
including the county governments.
What is the difference between KIHBT and other
TVET institutions in the country?
The major difference is that KIHBT was and is training
for the job. Our graduates are meant to go right into the
job without need for any further programs or internships.
The other Institutions were mainly knowledge based
even though they are being transformed now. So you
find that a graduate from these other institutions will
require additional training in order to pick up a job.
Along the lines, those TVET institutions have discovered
the gap and are trying to bridge it. We of course do not
exist in a vacuum, we are registered by the ministry
of education and also offer KNEC examinations. So
they know how we offer our courses and right now
we are working together with them to see how we can
harmonize the training of TVET institutions. Other than
that the other difference would be that while they are
INTERVIEW
properly founded as learning institutions, we at KIHBT
only exist by an executive order.
What are the challenges and or any advantages
that come with existence by an executive order?
KIHBT through an executive. The first challenge
obviously is that this can be revoked any time. But
there are also challenges in regards to what we can
or cannot execute as an institution. Secondly we do
not have a title deed for this land as it is under the
government which may be a target for land grabbers.
We cannot contract various arrangements as KIHBT
so we have to take it to the state department. This
legal status limits us from contracting directly with
international donors and agencies who have an interest
in KIHBT.
There are so many who wish to interact with KIHBT in
terms of development but they cannot because we are
not legally independent. We exist through an executive
order so when there is a change of government we
always sit back and wait. We know the Ministry will
likely be there or something like it but now in the
definition of roles and structures will KIHBT there? You
have to wait until you see it. No international donor
wants to deal with a body like that.
Talk to us about KIHBT becoming a Regional
Flagship TVET Institute Center
Our competency based training approach has not
started now. It dates way back in line with the foundation
objectives of the institute. This recognition to be a
Regional Flagship TVET institution is coming through
the ministry of education itself. This is through the
project I mentioned earlier, EASTRIP. It is through
this project that KIHBT will be transformed into a
regional flagship TVET Institute. KIHBT competitively
earned it against other technical training institutions.
We have been considered for this position alongside
other 15 institutions in East Africa. Our specific area is
Highways technology so it will be a Regional Flagship
TVET institute in highways technology.
Can the importance of roads on a country’s
economy be overstated?
Well maintained roads are very important. In fact our
day to day livelihoods depend on good roads either
directly or indirectly. It is an enabler of so many
government development agendas. Like the big 4,
roads infrastructure may not have been mentioned
KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 23
 INTERVIEW
directly but it is a very key enabler of those
four pieces of agenda outlined in there and
we can only do that by having the manpower
and skills to develop and maintain those roads.
What is your working relationship with
other players in the Transport industry?
To competently train our trainees, there is
need to work together with the industry. If
you limit the course to the classroom you
will not attain the required skills the industry
requires. So we involve the industry in our
training. I will specifically single out the road
subsector. As you know we are a division
under the state department of infrastructure
and squarely where the roads subsector fall.
All the road agencies who train together
are our sister divisions so we are within the
industry. So we link up with the agencies
and the contractors because we also train
contractors for example for a program called
performance based contracting for roads
maintenance.
Performance based contracting for roads
maintenance, why is this so important?
In the past, the approach of maintaining
roads was that of waiting for it to deteriorate
for the required intervention measures to
24 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019
be taken. That would involve, tendering,
valuations e.t.c but remember the road has
already deteriorated and is getting worse by
the day. So this new approach is such that
the contractor is continuously present on
the road. So we do not wait until the road
is terrible, problems are fixed as and when
they occur.
What is the implication, on Engineering
as an industry, of transforming TVET
institutions into Universities?
That is where we got it wrong. Instead of
building capacities of middle level colleges
we converted them into universities. So we
denied the industry the required manpower
to drive development in kenya. When you
look at the countries who have developed
tremendously between 1960s and now, they
strengthened the middle level training colleges
among other things. Because graduates of
the middle level colleges are the hands on
people, the operatives of industries.
What kind of support do you receive from
the government?
The government is supporting us very well
with the scarce available resources. Through
the same government we also access donor
assistance but obviously we need more.
What would you highlight as challenges
faced by Engineers in Kenya?
I’m myself a professionally qualified
engineer registered by both IEK and EBK. I
think the major challenge is the mentorship
opportunities that graduates require after
college. Initially these opportunities were
very few and the graduate wouldn’t even
know what procedure to follow to become
a professional engineer. But EBK has realized
this and with the help of funding from the
government now EBK is running internship
programs to young engineers coming out
of colleges.
What are some of the expected growth
areas in the Engineering industry in Kenya?
Technology is ever changing. The largest
expanding area is definitely the use
of technology with fields like artificial
intelligence and the Internet of Things. So
apart from the actual hard engineering we
used to do there is need to incorporate that
with such knowledge.
Your vision for KIHBT?
Of course we need to take it beyond what it
is now. It is now localized but we intend to
have it as a regional institute and reach out
to neighboring countries in a bigger way.
 INTERVIEW

The Kenya Institute of Highways and Building

Technology (KIHBT)

T
he Kenya Institute of Highways and
Building Technology (KIHBT) is a
public institution bestowed with the
mandate of providing high quality
and practical training on infrastructure in
Kenya. This mandate involves technical
training of government employees especially
from the Ministry of Roads, the public and
private sector trainees from Kenya and other
countries in the Sub-Saharan region.
Vision
To become the preferred infrastructure training
institution in Africa and beyond.
Mission
To facilitate the provision of high quality
infrastructure through training.
History
The institute was originally established
as a training division within the Publics
Works department in 1948 with the aim
of providing skills improvement for roads
and water foremen, inspectors and survey
assistants. The institution since grown to be
a major skill improvement and development
center that is well staffed and equipped with
modern construction machinery to provide
trainees with hands on experience.
Currently the Institute has an annual trainee
turnover of more than three thousand and
offer courses across the various engineering
disciplines such as mechanical, civil,
structural, electrical, ICT and driver training.
Training Programs
KIHBT offer training in form of regular and
short courses. Some of the courses offered are
in Highway Engineering, Building and Civil
Engineering, Building Economics, Structural
Engineering, Mechanical Engineering,
Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
Courses at diploma level and above are
offered on fulltime basis and entail detailed
coursework, projects and workshops sessions,
industrial visits and attachments to equip
trainees with practical knowledge and skills.
The curriculum is also designed to encourage
research, creativity and innovation among
the learners.

A. CAPACITY BUILDING COURSES (Continuous application)

I. Training of contractors (KIHBT Examined)
Course Title Duration Target Group
1 Labour- based R2000 Contractors, course 5 weeks
2 Performance Based Contracting(PBC) 1 weeks Contractors
3 R2000 Contractors’ Site Agents Course 7 weeks Diploma in civil, Building, Highways OR Cert.
in Road Building
4 R2000 performance based routine maintenance course 6 weeks School Leavers KCSE D+

5 Technical Supervisors Course 5 weeks Diploma in civil OR Highways Engineering

6 Contract Management for Building Contactors 6 weeks Contractors
7 Cobblestone paving Road Construction Technology 8 weeks Contractors/ Site agents
8 Routine Maintenance and Do-Nou technology course 6 weeks Contractors
9 Low Volume Seal Road Course for Contractors 5 weeks Road Authorities and Contractors

10 Low Volume Seal Road Course for Site Agents 6 weeks Diploma in civil, Building, Highways OR Cert.
in Road Building
11 Road Small Drainage Structures course 8 weeks
12 Building Supervisors’ course 4 weeks

II. Courses leading to awards of Government Trade test at NITA grade III, II and I) - (Non-Residential)
Course Title Fee Payable Duration Target Group

1 Construction Plant Mechanics (Grade III, II, I) 25,500 3 Months

2 Electrical Installation (Grade III, II, I) 25,500 3 Months

School leavers, KCPE and KCSE Holders
3 Plumbing and pipe fitting (Grade III, II, I) 25,500 3 Months

4 Motor vehicle Mechanic (Grade III, II, I) 15,500 3 Months Commencing May, September and January

5 Masonry (Grade III, II, I) 15,500 3 Months

6 Refrigeration and air conditioning (Grade III, II, I) 20,500 3 Months

KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 25

 KIHBT

B. REGULAR COURSES
1. TVET PROGRAM COURSES (KNEC EXAMINED (1 year per module) commencing on 26th August 2019
DIPLOMA MODULE I Minimum Requirement Fee Payable per term

a) Civil Engineering C-(KCSE) od Div. II(EACE/KCE) with Tuition and other levies Ksh. 22,000
b) Building Construction c- or credit Meals and accommodation Ksh. 17, 000
c) Electrical and Electronic Engineering
I. Electrical power option- Module I Passes in;
II. Telecommunication option- module I I. English Language
III. Instrumentation option- module I II. Mathematics (Tenable in Nairobi Campus only)
d) Mechanical- Automotive
e) Mechanical- Construction plant III. Physics or physical science
f) Mechanical- Industrial plant
g) I.C.T
h) Architecture
Diploma in:- Pass in various modules Tuition and other levies Ksh. 23,000
(a) Civil engineering module II&III (commencing 5 May 2018)
th

(b)Electrical power module III Pass in Module II ( commencing Tuition and other levies Ksh. 23,000
(c) Building Construction Module III May 2018)

2. TEP PROGRAM DIPLOMA COURSES (KNEC EXAMINED) (3 years) commencing 26th August, 2019
Course Title Minimum Requirements Fee payable per term
a) Highway Engineering C-(KCSE) or Div. II(EACE/KCE) with C- or credit I. Tuition and other levies Ksh. 16,000
b) Land Surveying Passes in: II. Meals and accommodation Ksh. 17,
c) Quantity Surveying I. English Language 000
II. Physics or physical science (Tenable in Nairobi Campus only)

3. PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATE COURSES (NITA EXAMINED) (2years)commencing 26th August, 2019

Course Title Minimum Requirements Fee payable per term
a) Auto Electrician D (KCSE) or Div. III (EACE/KCE) with D or I. Tuition and other levies Ksh. 19,500
b) Construction plant Mechanics passes in: II. Meals and accommodation Ksh. 17,
I. English Language
c) Refrigeration and Air conditioning 000
II. science
d) Plumbing and pipe fitting (Tenable in Nairobi Campus only)
III. Mathematics

CRAFT CERTIFICATE COURSES (KNEC EXAMINED) (2 years) commencing 26th August, 2019
Course Title Minimum Requirements Fee payable per term
Roads Construction (TEP) D (KCSE) or Div. III (EACE/KCE) with D or I. Tuition and other levies Ksh. 19,500
Electrical and Electronic Technology passes in: II. Meals and accommodation Ksh. 17,
I. Electrical power option- Module I I. English Language 000
II. Telecommunication option- module I II. Physics or physical science
Automotive Technology- Module I III. Mathematics
Building Technology - Module I
(Tenable in Nairobi Campus only)
Plumbing (TEP)
Welding and Fabrication- Module I
Transport management (Evening classes)

EVENING &WEEKENDS CLASSES (PART- TIME)

HIGHER DIPLOMA COURSES
Course Title
EXAMINING BODY KNEC
a. Building and Civil Engineering
b. Building Economics
c. Structural Engineering
d. Highway Engineering
e. Electrical and Electronic Engineering
f. Mechanical Engineering Automotive
and plant option
Duration 2 years commencing 6th May 2019
Minimum Requirements
KNEC Diploma or Technician part III certifi-
cate in the respective disciplines
Fee payable per term
I. Tuition and other levies Ksh. 20,500
II. Examination fee paid separately
(Tenable in Nairobi Campus only)

26 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019

 KIHBT

2. DIPLOMA COURSES Minimum Requirements Fee payable per term

Civil Engineering C-(KCSE) or Div. II(EACE/KCE) with C- or credit I. Tuition and other levies Ksh. 20,500
Transport management Passes in: II. Examination fee paid separately
I. English Language
(3 years) commencing 26th August, 2019
II. Mathematics
(Tenable in Nairobi Campus only)
III. Physics or physical science

C. SHORT COURSES(KIHBT Examined)

Course Title Target Group Fee payable(Ksh.) Duration
First Aid(5days)- non- residential Drivers, Group Training 6,000/= 1 week- monthly
Refresher and defensive Driving-non- residential Drivers 10,000/= 1 week

Elementary Driving(Without Examination Fee) School Leavers 11,600/= 4 weeks

Fleet Management- non- residential Engineers, Transport officers 25,000/= 1 week

Plant Operator- Tenable in Ngong and Kisii campuses Drivers 65,000/= 2 months

Basic Computer Applications General public 10,000/= 4 weeks

AutoCAD and ARCHCAD- non- residential Ngong Professional 15,000/= 2 weeks
Fire Safety and Disaster Preparedness(5days) - non- residential 1. Persons in work place 25,000/= 1 week
2. Corporate organizations
Applicants to attach the following to application forms or application letter(mobile number must be indicated)
Copies and academic certificate
Copies of leaving certificates
Copies of National Identification Card and Birth certificate
Bank slip of Ksh. 1,000/= payable to the Principal(KIHBT),A?C 01020-0008322-00 at the National Bank of Kenya
Applications for Diploma and Certificate courses are continuous. The next main intake is in August 2019

Entry Requirements
Entry requirement depend on the course a
candidate wishes to pursue as far as capacity
building courses are concerned. A diploma
in the relevant discipline is required to pursue
a Higher Diploma.
A minimum aggregate of C- KCSE certificate
or Division II KCE Certificate with C- or
above in Mathematics, English and Physics
or a KNEC examined relevant certificate
makes a candidate qualify for a Diploma
course. A mean grade of D+ and passes in
Mathematics, Physics and English enables one
to take up a certificate course. The institute
offer bridging courses for both physics and
mathematics for applicants who do not meet
the entry requirement in the two subjects
but are interested in joining the institution.
Fees
Fees vary with the nature of and duration of
the course a candidate wishes to pursue and
is reviewed from time to time. Prospective
students are advised to contact the institute for
details on fees charged for each course, fees
information is also available on at the institutes
website. Payment is made by banker’s cheque,
money order or cash deposit to the institute’s
account no. 01020-008322-00 at the national
bank of Kenya.
Admission
Candidates or institutions are expected to
submit written applications stating the courses
that they are interested in. the institute will
always respond to written applications within
the shortest time possible advising them when
the requested courses would be mounted,
and the charges.
Courses are advertised in the print media
mostly around July/August every year and
interviews are conducted in all District Roads
Engineers offices. Selection is therefore carried
out after receipt of all interview data from
the districts. Higher diploma, diploma and
certificate courses are programmed to start
at the beginning of every year. Application
can be done online at the institute’s website
http://www.kihbit.ac.ke
Campus Location
The main campus is located on Commercial
Street in Nairobi industrial area. The institute’s
administrative offices and all higher diploma
and diploma courses are conducted in Nairobi
main campus.
The Ngong campus in kibiku, Ngong division
of Kajiado district is a center for certificate
courses while Kisii training center in Kisii
central district specializes in training of labour
–based methods of road construction and
maintenance, among other courses.

Phone Number: 0202465760, 0202465761, 0726 999220 | Postal Address: P. O. Box 57511 – 00200M Nairobi
Email Address: principal@kihbt.ac.ke Website Address: www.kihbt.ac.ke Mobile Phone:

KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 27

 NUCLEAR ENERGY
A Pedestrian Approach To Nuclear Energy and
Safety Implications To Kenya.
By Eng. Benedict Mutunga PE, MIEK,
Meng (Materials Science and Engineering),
Mechanical Engineer, Ministry of
Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, Urban
Development and Public Works.
T
Introduction.
he earth is faced with the challenge
of global warming, with most
scientific research in agreement
that, global warming is resulting
from the increase of green house gases
especially CO2, generated through burning
of fossil fuels. Sun rays irradiate the earth with
short wave length making it possible for them
to penetrate the atmosphere. On impinging the
earth’s surface, they lose some of their energy
and are then released back to the atmosphere
in form of long wave lengths. On hitting the
green house cover in the atmosphere; this
long wave radiation is reflected back to the
earth leading to trapping of more energy on
the earth’s atmosphere. There is an optimal
thickness of ozone layer necessary to maintain
balanced atmospheric conditions and prevent
global warming. This is best achieved through
photosynthesis, respiration and farting of
living creatures on earth. Our demand for
energy has resulted in burning of fossil fuels
that leads to increase of green house gases in
28 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019
the atmosphere. The invention of the internal
combustion engine brought a revolution in
the transport industry until the challenge
of emissions arose. Electricity generation
from coal and diesel power plants is also
significantly contributing to the accumulation
of CO2 gas in the atmosphere. In Kenya diesel
power plants are used in electricity generation
and a coal power plant is already proposed
to be constructed in Lamu, implying that
Kenya is contributing to global environmental
degradation. This challenge can be mitigated
through adoption of the electric vehicle (EV),
in which the industry has made significant
stride and seen brands like Nissan Leaf, Honda
and Tesla electric vehicles. There is still a
challenge in these products on the aspect of
range; making internal combustion engine
still more competitive than the EV. Another
solution would be the use of electric train in
rail transport which was not implemented in
Kenya during the construction of the standard
gauge rail way. One solution to this range
issue is the application of the Fuel cell in
which there has been significant progress
and commercial products are already in
the market like the Toyota Mirai which is an
electrochemical solution to global warming.
The problem with EV and electric train
solutions is the source of electric power which
will determine, if there is any gain in carbon
credit in adoption of these technologies. For
any gain in carbon credit, the electricity for
charging the electric vehicles and running of
railway transport should be generated through
technologies that don’t result in emission of
CO2, such technologies include Solar, Hydro,
Geothermal, Wind and Ocean tides. Likewise
the source of hydrogen for fuel cells should
be from clean sources such as electrolysis
of water with green source of electricity.
Nuclear energy has been considered green
until concerns associated with safety arose as
a result of accidents such as the Three Mile
Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima accidents.
Kenya has considered Atomic energy as a
solution to our increasing need for electric
power and a conversation on the safety of this
mode of electricity is necessary to ensure that
as a country we make an informed decision on
whether to go on with this plan and more so,
on the location of a nuclear power plant. In
this article an account of the electromagnetic
wave and their interaction with matter is
given and how nuclear power plant works
including types of nuclear reactors.
Electro-magnetic Radiation.
Electromagnetic radiation consists of
electromagnetic waves, which are
synchronized oscillations of electric and
magnetic fields (as shown in fig. 2) that
propagate at the speed of light, which,
in a vacuum. Fig 1 show the range of

electromagnetic waves that consists of
radio waves, microwave, infrared, visible
light, ultraviolet, x-rays, γ-rays. X-rays and
γ-rays are ionizing radiation and for Kenya
to invest in atomic energy more awareness
on these radiations in the general population
is required.
The quantum energy of microwave photon
is in the range of 1x 10-6 eV to 1 x 10-3 eV
which is in the range of energies separating
the quantum states of molecular rotation and
torsion. Rotation produces heat from which
microwave heating is achieved. Microwaves
do not posses enough energy to induce
ionization and they do not produce radiation
damage.
The quantum energy of infrared photon is in
the range of 1 x 10-3 eV to 1.7 eV which is in
the range of energies separating the quantum
states of molecular vibrations the human
body absorbs infrared more strongly than
microwaves, but less strongly than visible
light. The result of infrared absorption is
heating of tissue.
The quantum energy of visible photon is
in the range of 2 eV to 3 eV which is the
range of energy that can promote electrons
to higher energy level (valence electrons).
Visible light is absorbed strongly by human
body, especially light towards the blue.
The quantum energy of ultraviolet (UV)
phonon is in the range of 3 eV to 103 eV.
UV photo is categorized as UVA with λ (wave
length) 315 nm to 400 nm (Not absorbed by
NUCLEAR ENERGY
ozone) and UVB with λ 280 nm to 315 nm
absorbed by ozone, The latter have higher
energy and can induce photo ionization
and hence the need to protect the ozone
layer and use of sun screen (by susceptible
members of society such as people with
albinism) as this photon has the potential of
inducing skin cancer.
X-rays are produced when an electron is
ejected from the inner shell of an atom
another electron moves from the outer shell
to replace the ejected electron and in the
process an x-ray is produced. The quantum
energy of x-ray photon is in the range of
103 eV to 105 eV, much too higher to be
absorbed in electron transitions between
states for most atoms. They can interact with
electrons by completely knocking it out of
the atom and hence classified as ionizing
radiation. This can occur by giving all the
energy to an electron (photo ionization) or
by giving part of the energy to the electron
and the reminder to a lower energy photon
(Compton scattering).
The γ-rays are produced when the nucleus of
an atom is broken apart during radioactive
decay. Iron element has the highest binding
energy per nucleon and this binding energy
drops off as the mass of the atom increases
after iron. Of all the thermodynamic
determinants (fundamental forces of nature)
i.e. electric field, magnetic field, gravity, strong
KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 29
 NUCLEAR ENERGY
nucleus force and weak nucleus force, The
strong nuclear force is the strongest owing
to the fact that net positive charge of the
nucleus does not repel each other due to
electromagnetic force. Weak nucleus force
causes a neutron to change to a proton and
vice versa (explained through other subatomic
particles to be explained another day). This
weak nuclear force brings about release of
binding energy during fusion and fission. It
is therefore responsible for radioactive decay
(Fission) of certain nucleus. The quantum
energy of γ-ray photon is in the range > 105
eV. γ-rays interacts with matter by completely
knocking electrons off their orbital’s and
diving the nuclear to subatomic particles of
protons and neutrons resulting to release of
30 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019
more energy from the splitting atom hence
the term chain reaction.
The ionizing radiations have short wave
lengths, large wave numbers and high energy
as depicted in fig. 3. Ionizing radiations
penetrates biological tissue materials with no
immediate pain or other sensation. Their main
hazard is caused by ionization with reactive
ions hydroxyl ions OH- which interfere with
chemical operation of biological cell resulting
to damage and with potential of genetic
damage or mutation. If Kenya is to invest
in nuclear energy the general public need
to be well informed of the potential danger
associated with ionizing radiation.
Chain reaction
In a nuclear reactor chain reaction is triggered
by splitting an atom and sending neutrons
flying in all directions. If one of these neutrons
hit an atom of a nuclear fuel material say
uranium (U-235) it splits and set the chain
reaction in the reactor, though this is a matter
of probability. The number of atoms that split
sends out several neutrons where some are
lost, some leak out of the reactor and not
unless pure uranium (U-235) is used with
a resultant of nuclear bomb, others gets
absorbed in to other elements making the fuel
such uranium U-238 that make about 146
parts out of 147 parts of naturally occurring
uranium. This explains why a big pile of
uranium in one spot cannot trigger a chain

reaction. If the nuclear reaction would be
started on such a pile it would fizzle out
immediately because very few neutrons
would find U-235 atoms to split. To start
chain reactions, triggered neutrons must be
conserved until they achieve some useful
work. One way of conserving neutrons is
slowing them down until they are moving
within a reactor as fast as phonon vibration of
uranium U-235 atoms. Neutrons in this speed
are called ‘thermalized’ neutrons and are
likely to split U-235 atoms than fast moving
neutrons. To slow neutrons down in a reactor,
a moderator is required. Fuel material cannot
be used as a moderator owing to large size
of its atoms when compared to neutrons;
neutrons would just bounce off without
slowing down. This makes it necessary for
small atom to be used as a moderator and
hydrogen has been found to be the smallest
atom for use as a moderator.
Hydrogen gas is not suited for this purpose
as atoms are usually far apart decreasing
the probability of slowing a neutron. Water
works well because it packs a lot of hydrogen
atoms together in a small space and neutrons
NUCLEAR ENERGY
of enriched uranium for manufacturing of
bombs though most of its bombs are made
of plutonium. This means that most of the
nuclear reactors designed and manufactured
in the United States use ordinary water as a
neutrons moderator. H2O moderator reactors
are more compact than 2H2O reactors and
are preferable for naval air craft carries and
sub-marines. On the other hand Canada has
cheap supply of 2H2O, as in 1997 Atomic
energy of Canada Limited was the world’s
leading supplier of deuterium. Deuterium
water is used in CANDU(Canada Deuterium
Uranium) reactors design as neutrons
moderator depicted in fig.4. The CANDU
happens to be the only 2H2O moderated
reactor in commercial use.
Another major producer of 2H2O is India
which has most of its nuclear power plants
using 2H2O as neutron moderator and exports
the rest to other countries. Fig. 5 show a
have to travel a short distance before hitting
scheme of Magnox reactors that uses graphite
a hydrogen atom and getting thermalized to
as a moderator and it is associated with the
split the U-235 atoms. There is a probability
defunct BNFL (British Nuclear Fuel Limited).
that a neutron might get thermalized or be
These reactors have been replaced with AGR
absorbed by the hydrogen atom making a
(Advanced Gas cooled reactors), that still use
Deuterium atom (H+n =D), thus converting
the water to heavy water 2H2O (D2O) and
this won’t be noticed until the chain reaction
fizzles out. This can be fixed by enriching
naturally occurring uranium from 0.7%
U-235, 99.3% U-238 to 5% U-235, 95%
U-238 and in this case light (ordinary) water
(H2O) can be used as a moderator otherwise
heavy water (2H2O) should be used as a
moderator with natural uranium fuel. It is
expensive to enrich uranium and at the same
time it is expensive to separate deuterium
water from ordinary water. It is the choice
of modulator that determines the type and
design of a nuclear reactor.
Nuclear reactor types.
The type of reactor that a country like Kenya
might adopt is largely dependent on the
nuclear set up economy. The nuclear arms
race during the cold war made the United
States of America to acquire large quantities
KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 31
 NUCLEAR ENERGY
graphite as neutrons moderator.
There are many more designs of reactors
including the RBMK reactor associated with
the Russians and was applied in the ill-
fated Chernobyl power plant, boiling water
reactors (BWR), pressurized water reactors
(PWR) and currently developed advanced
pressurized water AP1000 and the new
generation Canada Deuterium Uranium with
added safety features.
Discussion.
Despite the many improvement in design
and safety of nuclear reactors, there is danger
in generating of electric energy through
these means. The proponents of the Three
Mile Island (See fig. 6) had promised the
society of electric power source that was
too cheap to meter and assured the public
of their safety, but a disaster did happen and
one of the reactor building still stands as
monument that reminds us of technological
disaster. In our quest for nuclear energy as
a country we need to be very careful about
32 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019
location and security of a nuclear power
plant. Imagine of a “China syndrome” in a
densely populated area like Nairobi city and
its environs. We need to be more cautious
and avoid technological bravado.
From the Chernobyl disaster (See fig.7 and
fig. 8), it emerged that the most dangerous
time of any system is when it is changing state
during which mistakes can be catastrophic.
Many lives were lost immediately and many
more were lost thereafter and the effects of
ionizing radiation on living thing are still
being experienced today. Kenya needs to
educate its masses on the dangers of these
radiations and a serious public participation is
required before adoption of such technology
in electric power production. The pro and
cons associated with this technology needs
to be well explained to majority of Kenyans,
avoiding the secrecy that has been associated
with the nuclear industry. The financial muscle
of the leading players in this industry should
not be used to dupe Kenyans to accepting
dangerous technology.
Challenges towards decommissioning of
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power station of
the Tokyo electric Power Company should
encourage Kenya to make informed choices
before use of atomic energy in electric power
generation. With virtually all building in
Kenya constructed without taking into account
seismic activities, this would be catastrophic
if replicated in a nuclear reactor building. The
Japanese achieved complete cold shutdown
within nine months after the accident in 11th
March 2011, within two years removal of fuel
from the spent fuel pool was started, by the
year 2021 removal of fuel debris is expected
to commence and full decommissioning is
scheduled to be completed by the year 2051.
The challenges to quick decommissioning
include lack of robotic technology that
can walk up and down stairs with a load,
robotic technology whose communication
and materials composition cannot be affected
by ionizing electromagnetic radiation. A
lesson was learnt such that future reactor
buildings should be constructed with rams

instead of stairs. Most of the developed world
is shutting down its nuclear reactors, is it the
time for Kenya to invest in this technology?
The world is faced with a serious challenge
of spent nuclear fuel disposal. The current
scenario is that most of the spent fuel is stored
in pools in the basements of nuclear power
plants as depicted in fig. 9. Fig 10 shows
a BNFL recycling facility which resulted
in accumulation of nuclear waste; making
Britain the second country with largest amount
of the most toxic poison known to human
kind after the United States of America.
There have been attempts to come up with
an international repository in Australia,
Argentina, China and Namibia, where Pangea
rock exists. This lead to the creation of Pangea
Resources Australia Pty Ltd which promises
to make the world a safer place by burying
20% of the world nuclear waste (Including
plutonium from decommissioned war heads)
in Australia. Despite the companies big
money and influence they have never got
the necessary approvals, bring to question
the thinking in the nuclear industry, that it
can solve its problems by burying them in a
remote location. The Manhattan program in
the United stated saw the creation of 1400
km2 of highly radioactive land which will
take about 50 years to clean at a daily cost
of 5.5 million dollars. If Kenya invests in
nuclear power generation how will it handle
its nuclear waste? The nuclear industry is
highly regulated by the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) , will Kenya be in a
position to make decisions on the safest and
cost effective technology in this field?
The security situation in the great lakes region
is of concern; will Kenya not became part
of the “loose nuke problem”? Will there be
no concerns on modifications of reactors
with blankets to produce weapon grade
Plutonium? Kenya has a large geothermal
capacity which is safer, renewable and easier
to handle than nuclear energy. This should
be fully exploited before investing in nuclear
power generation.
Conclusion.
Global warming is serious threat to human
existence which needs to be combated by
switching to renewable energy sources.
Nuclear energy is considered green, but has
the potential of ending the world if handled
irresponsibly. If Kenya wishes to develop this
industry the masses should be well educated
on the implications of ionizing radiation.
The sitting of the power plant should be in
such a way that there is a low population
density within the plant evacuation radius. We
should otherwise fully develop all the other
renewable energy sources before adopting
atomic energy and that is why our next article
NUCLEAR ENERGY
will be on solar panels.
Bibliography.
1. Daniel C. Harris and Michael D.
Bertolucci, Symmetry and Spectroscopy,
Discover Publication Inc., New York
1989 ISBN 0-486-66144-X.
2. Robert J. Naumann, Physics and
Chemistry of Materials, CRC press Taylor
and Francis Group, 2009 ISBN: 978-1-
4200-6133-8.
3. S.M. Sze and M.K. Lee, Semiconductor
Devices Physics and Technology, John
Wiley & Sons, Inc. (USA 2012). ISBN:
978-0470-53794-7.
4. The IEE, Nuclear reactor types, An
environmental & Energy Fact File, The
Institution of Electrical Engineers, Savoy
place London 2005: ISBN: 0-85296-
581-8.
5. International Exchange Center study
Tour in Fukushima notice 3rd and 4th
March 2016.
6. Fukushima Research Infrastructural
Creation Center Sector of Fukushima
Research and Development Japan
Atomic Energy Agency, Future from
Fukushima, October 2015.
KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 33
 INTERVIEW
Schneider Electric Pushing the Limits of Innovation in
Energy Management and Automation
Schneider Electric is a global
specialist in energy management and
automation that promotes sustainable
development and access to clean
energy. Edouard Heripret is the
General Manager for the company
in East Africa, The Kenya Engineer
team had a chat with him on the
role of the company in the Energy
Industry in East Africa.
34 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019
Tell us who you are. (introduction &
professional background)
My name is Edouard Heripret. I’m French
living in Kenya for more than 2 years now. I
have been working with Schneider Electric
for the past nine years in different regions
and in different capacities driving the
company’s strategy. I am passionate about
Energy Management and matters relating to
Access to Energy.
What do you oversee at Schneider Electric
as the MD?
Today, I’m the General Manager of Schneider
Electric East Africa. The headquarter of
Schneider Electric in the region is here in
Nairobi and we cover ten countries. We
have a quite unique setup in East Africa with
offices in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and
Kenya. In Nairobi, we have a factory where
we manufacture different types of equipment
like solar containerised solutions, distribution
boards, consumer units and many more in our
range of products dedicated for the market
in East Africa. We are the only ones in the
industry with these production capabilities
in this region.
In addition to this, we have a solution centre
with people dedicated to design, engineering,
tendering, project management as well
as a service team for testing, installation,
commissioning and the entire after sales
support.
We also have a warehouse where we stock
some equipment for our partners or our
own use.

Tell us about Schneider Electric. (Brief history
of the company’s presence in Kenya)
Schneider Electric has been in existence for more
than 180 years. It’s a French company despite the
name sounding German. It employs over 150,000
people across the world with an annual turnover of
over 25 Million Euros. Our story in East Africa started
more than 30 years ago through Power Technics and
we accelerated our presence in the region through
the acquisition of our partner 4 years ago. Since
then, we have continued developing the company,
launching new offers in the market and opening new
branches in the region. We have a plan to keep on
opening new branches in the region with the main
base being in Nairobi, Kenya.
What products, services and solutions do you
offer/provide?
Schneider Electric is a technology provider. We
the global specialist in Energy Management and
Automation. This is our core business.
We combine our products with world-leading energy
technologies, real-time automation, software and
services into integrated solutions for Homes, Buildings,
Data Centers, Infrastructure and Industries. As you
know the big revolution in the market in connectivity,
what we call the Internet of Things and here in Kenya,
we see a big trend or a big need for customers to
move towards this kind of new technology for them
to better operate their assets, be it in a building, a
factory or even the home setting.
Our leading innovation, EcoStruxure, allows us
to offer our customers just that. It is an open,
interoperable, IoT-enabled system architecture and
platform. It delivers enhanced value around safety,
reliability, efficiency, sustainability, and connectivity
for customers. EcoStruxure leverages advancements
in IoT, mobility, sensing, cloud, analytics, and
cybersecurity to deliver Innovation at every level.
This includes Connected Products, Edge Control,
and Apps, Analytics & Services.
Our solutions span across various segments from
Food and Beverage, Banking and Finance, Mining
Metal and Minerals, Water and Waste Water, Oil
and Gas and so on.
What are the biggest challenges your company
has faced doing business in Kenya so far?
One challenge is the high cost of doing business in
Kenya. We have seen the gradual increase in the price
INTERVIEW
of energy making the overall cost of doing business
increase over the last two years thus impacting the
overall business operations. Consequently, customers
are beginning to look for solutions that will reduce the
cost of their electricity and we are supporting them
in this journey by providing an integrated system
to measure their energy consumption in real time
for them to start optimising it with more efficiency.
Secondly, Kenya is a market which is highly price
sensitive. At Schneider we position ourselves as a
premium service provider. The challenge for us is to
continuously educate on the Standards that govern
our offers in terms of efficiency and safety for the
benefit of the customers.
Earlier this year, Kenya hosted the 3rd One Planet
Summit in Nairobi. What lesson can the country
and Africa at large get from this summit as far
as renewable energy is concerned?
I personally attended the summit few months ago, and
Africa and the country at large needs to be committed
to climate change as it is projected that 65% of the
African population is directly impacted by climate
change. Providing electricity using renewables to
provide electricity to the 1 billion people worldwide
without energy access has the potential to create
millions of good jobs, however despite increasing
demand, a shortage of the skilled workforce needed
to deliver electricity access is large and growing.
Schneider Electric is accelerating its ambition and
commitments for climate by helping its customer
to avoid 100 M tons of CO2 emissions thanks to
cleantech Microgrid solutions. The range of Microgrid
solutions available at Schneider provide energy of
off-grid areas such as schools, health centres, business
centres and market places and generally an option
to rural electrification.
Microgrid solutions allow renewable energy to be
decentralized to the mass population. If you look
at the size of the African continent, it will need to
develop the equivalent of the existing grid in USA,
China, Europe and India altogether to give access
to electricity to everybody in Africa, which is of
course very costly and will also take a lot of time
to develop. But the good news is that today with
microgrid technology, it is possible to decentralise
renewable energy to where it is needed. I liken this
to the telecommunication industry where instead
of building a large network of cables to support the
KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 35
 INTERVIEW
olden day landlines we now have mobile
phones. This is the same kind of approach
that we are pushing for in terms of energy
with the microgrid solution.
Tell us more about Villaya micro grid
Solution. What is the foreseen impact
of this solution in Kenya?(Answered by
Mitchelle)
Villaya is a solution that provides an alternative
to the use of a generator but is Greener, Safer,
Cleaner and more energy efficient. It is a
containerized mobile solar microgrid solution
designed and produced in this plant here in
Kenya to serve the entire African market.
The capacity of Villaya is between 5kW and
65kW depending on the customer’s need.
The gamechanger around it is that it is a
Plug and play solution; a system that is
easy-to-use and install with easy-to-move
retractable photovoltaic panels attached to
a foldable EXOrac solar racking structure,
easy to transport as the entire solution is fitted
into either 10Ft or 20 Ft standard shipping
container and finally, it is easy to monitor
through the installed EcoStruxure Microgrid
Advisor system which allows managers to
36 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019
monitor and visualize their installed base
operations including the battery status, along
with energy production and consumption
levels in real time.
The other innovation around this solution
is that it has been designed with Sodium
batteries, which are adapted to high
temperatures and extreme environments
hence no need of air-cooling systems. These
batteries are also environment free and 100%
recyclable with a 15-year lifetime.
This system drastically reduces engineering
time, site commissioning and maintenance
costs.
As an example, more than 130 schools in the
remote areas of Kenya have been powered
with our solution.
What do you think are some of the
opportunities and expected growth areas
for engineers in the industry?
There are many opportunities. A lot of these
opportunities are linked to renewable energy,
microgrid technology as well as industry
automation with many factories investing
in this area for energy efficiency, reliability
and safety.
The world today is becoming more and more
electric; from the time you wake up in the
morning and switch on your smart phone to
the time you finish your day, you have plenty
of activities where you will rely on electricity.
In the coming years 80% of world’s consumed
energy will be electricity. So this is a domain
that keeps on growing with a big revolution
relying on the digital technologies that are
now available, so there are plenty of growth
areas for young engineers to exploit.
It is just a matter of providing the right support
in terms of training and education for people
to scale up and take advantage of these
opportunities.
From an Engineering point, what can
local companies learn from multinational
firms/companies like Schneider Electric?
Or what can Schneider Electric learn from
the people in Africa because I it works in
both ways. We have much to learn from the
people we work with. For example here in
Kenya, the appetite by young engineers for

digital topics is pushing and challenging us to go faster
and deeper on these kind of technologies. We have
managed to develop a solar containerised solution
here in our Nairobi office in partnership with our
France RnD and this solution is now produced for
all of Africa region. This is only possible because we
have the young Engineers with the right competences
and skills, with the appetite to find solutions for the
challenges that exist in Africa.
What do you think are the challenges faced by
Engineering professionals and the engineering
profession in Kenya and East Africa?
I think its access to hands on education, that is the
possibility to find the right training and the right support
to learn especially on the new technologies. This is
the reason why at Schneider Electric, we have a very
ambitious programme to develop training centres
in Kenya and East Africa where we offer vocational
training for engineers to upgrade their skills and
competencies on the Energy Management domain.
We are doing this in partnership with institutions
like Don Bosco and Eastlands College of Technology
where we have opened Green Labs. We have more
than 13 such centres across East Africa and we intend
to continue setting up more.
Private sector needs to work closely with learning
institutions to influence curriculum and support the
technical expertise to ensure what is learnt is aligned
to what is happening in the industry.
Speak to us about capacity building and local
content in the engineering industry in Kenya
Schneider Electric has invested heavily in training
through the Schneider Electric Academy and the
MyEnergy University available online through
www.myenergyuniversity.com. These programs are
available to our customers and offer a diversified
array of training content to enable them reinforce
their technical and entrepreneurial skills.
Internally and to our staff members, we are a
multinational company that is very local. Over 200
employees working here are local. This is the same for
all countries that we operate and we have a mission to
localize the management and operations of the entire
company. In addition, we are looking to develop a
pool of talent in Kenya that can go to any of our other
Schneider entities and deliver services. We operate
in sort of two ways, we inject some competencies to
fast track development of the people in Kenya and
INTERVIEW
we also look to send off people abroad to learn and
provide the same support to other countries.
What is your vision for Schneider Electric?
I have a long term vision for Schneider Electric East
Africa. As I said, we have been around for over 180
years and we are just at the beginning of the journey
with so much to do in Kenya. First, we would like
to leverage more on the new digital technologies. I
would like to see a scenario where businesses and
industries are leveraging the Internet of Things and
the advancements driving it; a future where our
customers can see and plan energy consumption before
it happens and where they can manage it efficiently
and sustainably.
The second part of my vision is based around Access to
Energy and more specifically how we can support our
partners and customers to give more access to energy.
At Schneider, we believe that access to energy is a
basic human right and it is part of our responsibility as
a leader in energy management to further this one on.
The third one is about Education. Education is the
key success factor for long term growth in Kenya and
as Schneider we won’t hesitate to invest in this area.
Which should take preference between improving
efficiency and generating more power.
We have to work on this as two parts of the same
equation. One which is the supply and the other is
the demand.
There is need to keep on generating more supply and
we do believe that renewable energy is the next step.
Energy in Kenya is already very much green with a lot
of geothermal and hydroelectricity production but there
is still a lot of potential especially in solar and wind.
The other aspect is about the demand, where there is
still a lot to do to improve the energy efficiency and
the technologies does exist. Its about connecting the
assets to a system that will monitor and control the
energy efficiency in real time. You can only start to
improve your energy consumption when you can
start to measure it.
And in between you have the distribution path, where
again, there are many technologies that exist to improve
the efficiency of the distribution channel. We are
engaging with utilities to support them in this field.
KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 37
 STRUCTURES
Post-Tensioning for Stronger, More Durable and
Economical Structures
By Roderick Obeja, roderick@questengineering.co.ke
Figure 1: Pre tensioning stages, courtesy “An Introduction to Pre-stressed Concrete, A H Allen”
Roderick Obeja is a civil engineering graduate
member of the Uganda Institution of Professional
Engineers and is involved in the design and
delivery of Post-Tensioned structures. He works
with Questworks Limited, www.questworks.co.ke,
a design-build (Engineering, Procurement and
Construction) firm focused on turn-key delivery
of real estate and renewable energy projects in
Africa. Questworks is engaged in the design and
construction of post tensioned concrete structures,
and is head quartered in Nairobi.
T
he American Concrete Institute
defines Post-tensioning as
“a method of reinforcing
(strengthening) concrete or other
materials with high-strength steel strands
or bars, typically referred to as tendons”.
Concrete has a higher compressive strength in
contrast with steel, whereas steel has a higher
tensile strength compared to concrete. Pre-
stressed concrete, of which Post-Tensioning
(PT) is a part, uniquely utilises the inherent
compressive strength in concrete, to provide
additional structural strength in concrete
structures. I have designed and delivered on
several Post-Tensioned projects while working
with Questworks Ltd, and I am confident that
PT structures are stronger, more durable and
economical in contrast with the traditional
38 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019
reinforced concrete (RC) counterparts because
I see these benefits daily as I structurally
design for PT and manage field installations.
The superior advantages provided by PT
include: longer spans, reduced structural
depths, water tight elements, crack-free slabs,
improved deflection control and capacity
under service loads, improved aesthetics
due to optimised column sizes and locations,
economical structural elements particularly in
slabs and beams for spans beyond 7m. An in-
depth understanding of the design and analysis
of post tensioning in concrete structures,
and quality in construction materials and
processes are irreducible minimums in PT
structures. If PT is adopted more in design
and construction in East Africa, superior
concrete structures, significant cost savings,
aesthetically more agreeable structures will
be realised, like has been achieved the world
over. Structural engineers, and those prepared
for the built environment briefly study pre-
stressed concrete. It is not enough to know
about these benefits, we need to actually
design and build using these solutions we
know about, and we can, if we want to.
My experience with PT have been in
commercial and residential buildings,
industrial developments, religious and
institutional buildings, slabs-on-ground in
expansible soils (like lack cotton soils), car
parks, air strips, bridges, transfer beams,
aqueous structures, structural restorations,
raft foundations.
1.0 Overview
Post Tensioned (PT) construction has a
decisive technical and economic advantage
over its counterpart and more traditional,
reinforced concrete (RC). PT concrete is an
innovative use of complementary materials:
concrete and high tensile steel. When steel
is used to pre-compress the concrete, an
advantage is introduced because concrete
has a high compressive strength, which
compensates for its low tensile strength (10%
of its compressive strength). The combination
presents a structural element with superior
tensile and compressive force resistance
properties. The surprising significant cost
savings due to a myriad of factors which will
be discussed in this trilogy, do not compromise
on functionality, integrity, elegance, or
durability. It fact, often times, structures are
more serviceable as a result of PT application.
The first post tensioned building in East Africa
is in Nairobi, and is the Strathmore University
Sir Thomas More Building, completed in
2016, and designed and delivered by
Questworks Ltd. The region has seen several
pre-stressed concrete solutions applied mainly
on bridges, and civil structures, but rarely
on buildings. Many practicing structural
engineers receive a very basic and cursory
education in pre-stressed concrete, and hence
will lean towards reinforced concrete for all
structural challenges, instead of applying
pre-stressed concrete because in many ways,
it is a very innovative structural solution. In
addition, construction precision required
in PT construction is yet to be achieved
in the construction industry. PT design
and construction are an opportunity for
firms which are keen to deliver quality and

Figure 2: 14000 m2 PT on Ground, Vivo Energy Kenya Petroleum Depot, Nanyuki Kenya
economy to clients and developers. It is
time we became of age and more brave as
engineers, and clients to deliver economically,
reaping from existing sound and innovative
structural engineering applications.
2.0 Brief history
A patent for pre-stressed material was taken
out in California in 1886, but it was only in
the late 1940s that pre-stressed concrete really
began to develop. The shortage of steel in
Europe after the Second World War opened
the way for use of pre-stressed concrete in
the period of reconstruction that followed
the war. Eugene Freyssinet, a Frenchman,
is respectfully regarded as the ‘father’ of
pre-stressed concrete. After much research
throughout the early twentieth century,
he managed to secure his first patent in
1928 and thus secured his theory of pre-
stressing. His first publication on the subject
was precisely entitled “A Revolution in the
Art of Building”. When Eugene developed
and patented this technique of pre-stressing
concrete, he little realised the applications
to which his invention would be put in
future years. Spectacular growth in the use
of pre-stressed concrete took place after the
Second World War in Europe to repair and
reconstruct bridges. It is now a widely used
and accepted Civil Engineering construction
material. The first post tensioned buildings
were erected in the USA in the middle of
the twentieth century using un-bonded post
tensioning, some post tensioned structures
were built in Europe quite early but the
widespread and real development took place
in Australia and the USA.
Pre-stressed construction has been used
in mostly on precast bridges and some
water tanks, dams in East Africa. The first
post tensioned building in East Africa is the
Strathmore University Sir Thomas More
Building in Nairobi, where the suspended
floor slabs are constructed exclusively using
post tensioned concrete, with both design
and construction done by a single regional
company, born, bred and buttered in Kenya,
with activities in the region. Today, the entire
world has used some form of pre stressing in
concrete construction, and it is hoped that
pre-stressed concrete will gather the moss on
the African continent. South Africa leads all
of Africa in the use of PT. Can we not catch
up as a region? What are we afraid of? Do
we not know and can we not apply this
innovative structural solution? Yes we can!
3.0 Principles
Pre-stressed concrete is simply pre-
compressed concrete. A compressive stress
STRUCTURES
is applied into a concrete member before it
begins its working life and is positioned in
areas where tensile stresses will develop under
working load. We are concerned about tensile
stresses because although concrete is strong
in compression, it is weak in tension. Steel is
strong in tension, and weak in compression.
In pre-stressed concrete, the compressive
stresses introduced into areas where tensile
stresses develop under load will resist or
annul these tensile stresses. The concrete
will then behave as if it had a high tensile
strength of its own and, provided the tensile
stresses do not exceed the pre-compression
stresses, cracking cannot occur at regions of
high tensile stresses.
In daily life, the fundamental principle of
pre-stressing is applied by a person moving
several books, perhaps in a library, by hand.
As an alternative to stacking them vertically,
one on top of another and supporting them
underneath, they can be lifted and moved
in a horizontal stack, by exerting pressure
(through a compressive force) with a hand on
each end. In fact, the higher the compressive
force, the more bricks can be supported,
even more bricks can be placed on top of the
horizontal stack. This is simply the principle
of pre-stressed concrete.
KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 39
 STRUCTURES

The American Concrete Institute describes

pre-stressed concrete as “concrete in which
there have been introduced internal forces
of such magnitude and distribution that
the forces resulting from the given external
loadings are counteracted to a desirable
degree”.

Two methods exist where pre-stressed concrete

is applied: pre-tensioning and post tensioning.
Pre-tensioning as the word implies, is where
the steel is tensioned between abutments and
then concrete is placed in forms around it.
When the concrete has achieved sufficient
compressive strength, the steel is released
from the abutments, transferring the force
to the concrete through the bind that now
exists between the steel and the concrete.

In post-tensioning, the concrete is cast first in

forms, allowed to set, before the pre-stress is
applied. The steel is usually placed in position
in a predetermined profile, and concrete
cast thereafter, or ducts can be created in
the concrete, and the steel passed through
thereafter. Post tensioned concrete can be
bonded or un-bonded, both with critical
differences and advantages. Bonded PT
occurs where the concrete has a bond with
the post tensioned steel member through a
Figure 3: Finite Element Method of Analysis for Post-Tensioned Building, for a project in cement grout between the PT steel and the
Nairobi concrete, while un-bonded PT is where a
sheath exists between the concrete and the
PT steel.

PT concrete slabs have varied pros over the

reinforced concrete slab counterpart and
other structural systems for both single and
multi-level structures:

a. Longer spans can be used hence reducing

the number of columns, resulting in
larger, column free floor areas hence
greatly increasing the flexibility of use
for the structure and resulting in higher
rental incomes.
b. PT has a favourable influence upon
deflections of slabs under service loads
compared to RC. Undesirable deflections
under service loads can be virtually
eliminated, and deflection capacities
Figure 4: Deflection check from Finite Element Analysis of a slab panel, for a project in Nairobi
are increased for significant spans

40 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019


Figure 5: Arrangement of PT strands on a slab panel for a project in Nairobi
Figure 6: Post Tension Cables Arranged on a Suspended Slab at a project site in Nairobi
c. The total cost of materials, labour and
formwork required to construct a floor is
reduced for spans greater than 7 metres,
hence providing superior economy
and durability. This also provides for a
reduced carbon foot print.
d. For the same imposed load, thinner
slabs can be used, allowing additional
building heights for the same maximum
building height with resultant savings
in façade costs. For taller buildings, it
allows for more floors to be constructed
within the original building envelope.
e. PT slabs are virtually water proof,
depending on good and careful design,
detailing and construction.
f. PT floor slab construction is faster, with
earlier stripping of formwork, reduced
back propping requirements, enabling
faster construction cycles and quick
re-use of formwork
g. Post tensioned floor construction
requires less material handling, and
benefits on-site carnage requirements.
STRUCTURES
The strength of post tensioning strands
is approximately four times that of
conventional reinforcement, hence
reducing the total weight of reinforcing
material
h. Reduced floor dead loads are greatly
beneficial for columns and foundations
with reduced column and foundation
sizes and requirements. With reduced
columns, the net floor area available for
rent is increased.
i. A combination of the above benefits
provides increased durability in structural
elements
Post-Tensioning does require a sound structural
design (typically using a finite element analysis
method), and a skilled and trained field
personnel, with appropriate equipment.
Clients currently pay more for structures,
and better economy can be obtained through
solutions like Post Tensioning. At Questworks
Ltd, we will continue to provide the best
solutions to the market, and are happy to
continue to advance technologies that are
stronger, more durable and economical. We
are happy to provide clients solutions, and to
work with everyone in the built environment
toward the best solutions.
KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 41
 IOT NETWORK
Smartphone as a device for managing and
monitoring Environment in an IoT network.
Aggrey Shitsukane Shisiali
Technical University of Mombasa, 90420-80100, Mombasa, Kenya
Tel: +254724963044
Email: shitsukane@tum.ac.ke.
T
he past couples of years have
seen an increased attention
in the internet of things (IoT)
transcending industry, academia
and governments. Its vision is everything will
be equipped with processing, sensing and
actuating capabilities and be connected to
the internet to deliver prospective benefits.
To be realistic there is need for ubiquitous
IoT gateway to connect together things for
data analysis, obtain sensing data and make
independent decisions. Sensor enabled
mobile phone are now the center of next
revolution in environment monitoring, social
networks green applications and transport
systems because they are pervasive with
many embedded sensors that serves to
collect ,process and distribute data around
people. Smartphone can be augmented
to provide sensing nodes as well as give
gateway functionalities to the internet and
cloud. The role of the gateway improved
smartphone is to interface wireless sensor
network (WSN) data then enrich data using
smartphone embedded sensors before they
are send to remote server. The question is
it possible to gather adequate information
using smartphone?
42 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019
Development of Internet of things (IoT) has
brought connectivity of most devices and
instigated a new kind of data flow. It is believe
that IoT is part of the future Internet and will
embrace billions of intelligent communicating
‘things’. The imminent Internet will comprise
of heterogeneously connected devices that
will further outspread the borders of the
world with physical entities and virtual
components .The vision of IoT is to convey
even further connectivity and interface among
the simplest and most common devices
(e.g., light bulbs,grains,TV fridges) fetching
more and more devices into the connected
world. Providing a good connection to such
wide number of devices is a big challenge.
Smartphone has mass diffusion and are
equipped with several communication
interfaces with storage, computing capabilities
and also comes with embedded sensors.
Smartphone can be used as a sensor node as
well as a gateway in the design of a model
capable of managing the environment.
Cloud computing is capable of holding up
many users with their increasing amount of
data. There is a focus on a novel paradigm
where Cloud and IoT are amalgamated
together anticipated as an enabler of an
enormous number of application scenarios.
The emphasis on the incorporation of Cloud
and IoT is called CloudIoT paradigm.
experiments have shown that computational
power of present Smartphone can put up
with more set of wireless standards; this
makes it conceivable to link IoT devices to
the mobile computing platform thus novel
IoT applications. The phone incorporated
with Internet of things and cloud computing
will initiate revolution of myriad industrial
monitoring and management systems by
supporting integrated data analysis and
process automation. Connectivity to wide
area network is primary to gather sensed
data or to direct control information to
and from IoT field devices. Mobile phones
providing a hub role can play as the gateway
for personal IoT environment, similarly with
their embedded sensors can be used for
sensing, consequently capability of managing
and monitoring environmental safety. Cloud
computing has made sharing and accessing
data convenient and working with big streams
of data easy as well as manageable. These
technologies supports products or physical
objects to store, send or receive information
in ways that could change the way we do
things. IoT is for that reason bringing more
devices into the connected world, whereas
cloud computing is able to support many

users and their increasing amount of data.
It is apparent that these two technologies coming together
and employing Smartphone as the gateway as well as
a sensor node is a plus. Most of the commercial IoT
devices, universally connected mobile platforms can make
available inclusive connectivity and permit numerous
applications. Nonetheless, the types of IoT resource-
utilizing applications are still limited due to the outmoded
stovepipe software architecture, where the vendors deliver
supporting software on an end-to-end basis.
Participants must be willing to use mobile app to play
a part in the sensing .Either opportunistic sensing in
which sensing and streaming happens automatically
if the required criteria is met or participatory sensing
where sensing and streaming is manually achieved by
the participants. The sensed data from internal sensors
in the smartphone and wireless sensor nodes external
to the phone can connect to the wireless interface
using Bluetooth low energy that is popular interface for
connecting sensor nodes to the smartphones. Irrespective
of whether the sensor is internal to the smartphone or
outside the sensed data must be available via API within
the smartphone software development environment in
order to be used directly or send to the cloud through
any internet connectivity e.g. Wi-Fi.
Smartphones are carried around daily by people thus
have an important role in the internet of things because
they have several supporting communication interface
and protocols, they can be attractive for opportunistic
gateway functionality when occurring in the vicinity
of WSN. Several sensor are embedded in the device.
They include barometer sensor used to track changes in
atmospheric pressure and to estimate weather conditions
and altitude.
The Bluetooth sensor used to discover nearby Bluetooth
devices that are in discoverable mode. The camera can
be used for taking pictures, video calls, and scanning
QR codes (Quick Response Codes). The compass sensor
can be used to detect the orientation and direction of
the phone. Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor
uses satellite information for localization of the mobile
phone. The gyro sensor is useful to measure the phone’s
orientation and is used for gesture recognition in gaming
related applications. Microphone is a fundamental sensor
and is present in every mobile phone it can be used to
identify the speaker, detect the user’s emotions, and to
determine noise levels in the environment. Near Field
Communication (NFC) chip in a phone can be useful
IOT NETWORK
for short range communication between similar devices
usually no more than four centimeters apart. Light sensor
is useful in detection of the ambient light levels in the
environment of the phone. Proximity sensor is used to
detect if an object is blocking the surface of phone, the
screen of the mobile phone hence can be utilized as a
sensor to detect if the user is interacting with the phone.
We may regard the Wi-Fi and cellular radios in mobile
phones as sensors, these radios can be used to perform
localization.
Though mobile devices are making it easier for users to
communicate, many users get frustrated while accessing
certain applications and services using their mobile
devices. Some of the major limitations are
• Limited memory
• Limited processing power
• Battery consumption
• Simplicity
• Accessibility
The main challenge faced by software production and
usage for mobile consumer devices is limitations in the
memory. As the physical memory is limited thus at times
programs are forcibly terminated leading to fatal errors
particularly in situations where the operating system
is running on low memory. Currently the main aim of
research works being carried out on mobile devices is to
improve memory management for performance, safety,
ease of use and efficiency.
Mobile cloud computing (MCC) offers several advantages
for data storage and data processing takes place outside
the mobile device.IoT has several limitations however
MCC advantages can alleviate the drawback of IoT.
Convergence of IoT and MCC has great potential for
success. IoT requires sufficient support for ubiquitous
communication and access to services and information.
Middleware approach is proposed where smartphones
provide service gateways to bridge the gap between IoT
services and Cloud services. Since smartphones are mobile
gateways, they should be able to reconfigure themselves
according to their place, things discovered around, and
their own resources such battery. A lot of research has
been done on Smartphone but Smartphone sensor have
not been fully tested in comparison to standard sensors
so us to be fully used for environment sensing safety
application. Amalgamation of Smartphone embedded
sensors as well as being used as gateway to cloud has
great potential for success, this synergy will motivate
new business models.
KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 43
 BAGGASE ASH
Compressive Strength Prediction Models For Sugar
Cane Baggase Ash Concrete
Plate 1.0. Baggase on right and SCBA on left. [1].
By Dr. Eng. Kennedy Aburili (PE) (MIEK)
B
Abstract
agasse is a valuable byproduct in
sugar milling and is often used as
a primary fuel source due to its
high calorific value required to
supply energy for plant operations. Many
researchers have been able to determine
suitability of sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA)
as a cement replacement in concrete, but
there is no evidence of regression model
development to predict compressive strengths
of SCBA concrete. Results from laboratory
experiments performed to characterize the
compressive strength of concrete blended with
different SCBA were used to develop regression
mathematical models. Four models; the
least square quadratic (LSQP), Simultaneous
Equation (SEP), Newton Interpolation (NIP) and
Legrange interpolation (LIP) polynomials were
developed using these statistical techniques
to predict the compressive strength of SCBA
concrete. Water – cement ratio was kept
constant at 0.45 and cement replacement
level ranged from 0 to 30%. Curing period
varied at age of 7, 14, and 28 days. The best
model was identified by adopting leave-one-
out (LOO) cross-validation. The developed
models provided a closed form estimate of
compressive strength of SCBA concrete. The
models would serve as useful guidelines for
44 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019
proportioning concrete mixes incorporating
SCBA as a partial cement replacement material.
Such concrete could be used successfully in
structural applications with economic and
environmental advantages.
Key words: Concrete, Sugar Cane Baggase
Ash, Mathematical model, Compressive
strength
Introduction
Bagasse is a valuable byproduct in sugar
milling and is often used as a primary fuel
source due to its high calorific value required
to supply energy for plant operations [1].
The burning of bagasse leaves solid black
particles known as sugar cane bagasse ash
(SCBA), see Plate 1. Since the early 1980’s,
there has been an enormous demand for a
mineral admixture and in future this demand
is expected to increase even more [2]. Due
to this, requirements for more economical
and environmental-friendly cementing
materials have led interest for partial cement
replacement materials [3].
Statistical procedures provide tools of
considerable value when evaluating the
results of strength tests. Prediction of concrete
strength, therefore, has been an active area of
research and a considerable number of studies
have been carried out [4]. Many researchers
have been able to determine suitability of
SCBA as a cement replacement in concrete,
but there has been no evidence of regression
model development [1]; [2]; [5]; [6]; [7]; [8];
[9]. Scientists employ these models mainly
because they are less expensive in terms of
time or cost to collect information required
to make predictions about events [10].
Regression model development has been
investigated in this research based on results of
experimental work done on characterization
of SCBA concrete. Statistical techniques were
used to provide mathematical models to
estimate the compressive strength of concrete
when cement was replaced partially by
SCBA. Two model development techniques;
least square and interpolation were applied.
The best model was identified by adopting
leave-one-out (LOO) cross-validation. The
philosophy of this paper was based on the
fact that models are not complex but judicious
tradeoffs between realism and simplicity [11].
Model Development
Regressions models are powerful tools
frequently used to predict a dependent
variable from a set of predictors and are
widely used in a number of different contexts
[12]. Statistical techniques were used to
 BAGGASE ASH

provide mathematical models to estimate
the compressive strength of concrete when
cement was replaced partially by SCBA.
Mathematical models were developed in form
of equations through polynomial regression
analysis of the data showing the variation of
concrete compressive strengths with curing
age and percentage replacement of OPC
with SCBA. Regression analysis was used
to quantitatively correlate the compressive
strength of concrete at 7, 14 and 28 days
curing period to selected range SCBA content.
The methods of least squares and interpolation
that leads to the best fitting line of a postulated
form to a set of data were used to form
regression models between predicted
compressive strengths and SCBA content at
constant water – binder (cement + SCBA)
ratio of 0.45. Various studies showed that
when the water/binder ratio is used instead
of water/cement ratio as basis for mix design,
strength prediction becomes more accurate
[13]. Suitable analytical tools in Matlab
R2013a were used to plot appropriate
polynomial curves, generate the corresponding
mathematical equations, and obtain regression
models using values of compressive strengths
of SCBA (size < 0.075mm) concrete laboratory
values shown in table 1. The compressive
strength of SCBA blended concrete for curing
periods 7, 14 and 28 days was denoted as
fcu7d , fcu14d and fcu28d respectively. Each of the
former was determined from the average of
3 compressive strengths; fcu1, fcu2 and fcu3. C
was the control mix or 0% SCBA replacement
of cement in concrete.
Table 1 Compressive strength of blended
OPC - D<0.075 SCDA concrete.
Curve Fittings
The data in table 1 was analyzed by fitting
curves using polynomial regression and
applying Mat-lab software. Polynomial
regression is normally used to create a
generic curve through the data points; making
application of the mathematical form of
the equation irrelevant [14]. There are two
general approaches for curve fitting; least-
squares regression and interpolation [15]. This
research attempted to test both these curve
techniques to ultimately come up with the
most appropriate model. These techniques
were represented by four models:
(i) Least Square regression
(a) Least Square Quadratic Polynomial
(LSQP)
(ii) Interpolation.
(b) Simultaneous Equation Polynomial (SEP)
(c) Newton Interpolation Polynomial (NIP)
(d) Lagrange Interpolating Polynomial (LIP)
(a) Least Square Quadratic Polynomial
One method to accomplish curve fitting was
to fit polynomials to the data using LSQP
also referred as Non – Linear or Second
Order Regression. MATLAB was applied to
determine polynomial coefficients (a0; a1 and
a2) using decreasing powers. The least-squares
procedure can be readily extended to fit the
data to a higher-order polynomial [16]. In
this research a second-order polynomial or
quadratic mathematical model was fitted
to predict the compressive strength (f) with
different SCBA content (s):
f = a0 + a1s + a2 s2 + e.......…………1.0
Compressive Strength
(b) Simultaneous Equation Polynomial
SEP is a way of computing polynomial
coefficients (p1, p2 and p of a parabola that
passes through 3 predetermined values of
s [16]. This enables generation of 3 linear
algebraic equations that can be solved
simultaneously for determination the 3
coefficients for compressive strengths (f).
f = p1 s2 + p2 s + p3…………2.0
(c) Newton Interpolation Polynomial
NIP is one of the most popular and useful
alternative form of expressing an interpolating
polynomial [14]. If 3 data points are available,
a 2nd order polynomial will be of the form:
f = p1 + p2(s – s1) + p3 (s – s1) (s – s2) ..…3.0
The procedure was used to determine the
value of the coefficients:
p1 = f (s1)
p2 = [f (s2) - f (s1)]/ (s2 – s1)
p3 = [f (s3) - f (s2)]/ (s3 – s2) - [f (s2) - f (s1)]/ (s2 – s1)
(s3 – s1)
(d) Lagrange Interpolating Polynomial
Basing on the table 1, the compressive strength
– bagasse ash relationship has maxima (s2) and
two minimums (s1 and s3) for the three curing
periods, 7, 14 and 28 days. Three parabolas
were used with each one passing through
one of the points and equaling zero at the
other two. Their sum would then represent
the unique parabola that connects the three

SCBA % (N/mm2)
Replacement 7d 14d 28d
fcu1 fcu2 fcu3 fcu7d fcu1 fcu2 fcu3 fcu14d fcu1 fcu2 fcu3 fcu284d

C 15.2 15.1 15.1 15.1 17.2 17.1 17.0 17.1 22.9 23.2 23.5 23.2
5 15.3 15.2 15.3 15.3 17.4 17.6 17.5 17.5 23.3 23.4 23.3 23.3

10 15.6 15.9 15.5 15.7 18.4 18.2 18.0 18.2 24.2 24.1 24.0 24.1
15 9.0 9.0 9.1 9.0 12.2 12.3 12.2 12.2 16.6 16.5 16.4 16.4
20 7.9 7.9 8.0 7.9 9.1 9.1 9.1 9.1 13.2 13.2 13.1 13.2
25 4.6 4.4 4.5 4.5 6.9 7.0 7.1 7.0 8.7 8.6 8.5 8.6
30 3.6 3.4 3.5 3.4 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.3 7.1 7.1 7.0 7.1

KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 45

 BAGGASE ASH
points [15]. Such a second-order Lagrange
interpolating polynomial can be written as:
f = (s – s2)(s – s3) f(s1) + (s – s1)(s – s3) f(s2) +
(s1–s2)(s1–s3) (s2–s1)(s2–s3)
(s – s1)(s – s2) f(s3)……..……………………3.0
(s3– s1)(s3– s2)
Model Validation
Model validation is possibly the most important
step in the model building sequence. It is
also one of the most overlooked. Often the
validation of a model seems to consist of
nothing more than quoting the r2 statistic from
the fit (which measures the fraction of the total
variability in the response that is accounted
for by the model). The parameter estimation
procedure picks out the best model. Model
validation techniques include simulating
the model under known input conditions
and comparing model output with system
46 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019
output [16]. This paper was concerned
with cross validation criterion for choice of
the model which could be considered as
an approximation for compressive strength
determination of SCBA concrete. Used to
perform model selection, cross validation is a
widespread strategy because of its simplicity
and its apparent universality in application
[17] and is a model evaluation method that
is better than simply looking at the residuals
[20]. Residual evaluation does not indicate
how well a model can make new predictions
on cases it has not already seen.
With cross validation application, the quality
of fit is evaluated on new data points that are
not used to fit the parameters of the model.
Specifically, this research adopted leave-
one-out (LOO) cross-validation, a method
which leaves a single data point out, fit the
model on the remaining data point, predicts
the left-out data point, and repeat this whole
process for every single data point. r2 statistic
was then be applied to quantify how close the
model predictions match the data. LOO has
many advantages over other cross validation
techniques because it limits the number of
splits [19], is a most exhaustive procedure
[20] and will most certainly give unbiased
estimate of true error and variance [21], [22].
Statistical analysis of the results of the three
series of tests (at 7, 14 and 14 days curing
periods) produced 4 models with their
corresponding coefficient of determination
(r2) and standard error of estimate (se), the
most commonly used measure of the spread
or dispersion of data around the mean.
The summary of compressive strengths of
SCBA concrete at various cement contents
and curing periods are shown in Table 2.
Where c is the % of SCBA replacing cement
in concrete and fcu is the actual compressive
strengths at various curing periods.
 BAGGASE ASH

Table 2. Compressive strengths of SCBA concrete for various models

c Compressive Strength
(N/mm2)
7d 14d 28d
fcu LSQP SEP NIP LIP fcu LSQP SEP NIP LIP fcu LSQP SEP NIP LIP
0 15.1 16.23 15.10 15.10 15.10 17.1 16.20 18.33 17.10 17.10 15.1 23.2 24.46 23.20 23.20
5 15.5 14.80 16.00 15.96 15.97 17.5 14.82 17.19 18.23 18.28 15.5 3.3 22.98 24.43 24.44
10 15.7 13.00 15.70 15.70 15.71 18.2 13.08 13.47 18.20 18.20 15.7 24.1 20.83 24.10 24.11
15 9.0 10.84 14.31 14.31 14.33 12.2 11.00 10.90 16.85 16.86 9.0 16.4 18.03 22.20 22.21
20 7.9 8.35 11.80 11.80 11.81 9.1 8.56 10.90 14.24 14.27 7.9 3.2 14.56 18.74 18.75
25 4.5 5.53 8.163 8.163 8.17 7.0 5.77 7.86 10.36 10.41 4.5 8.6 10.44 13.71 13.71
30 3.4 2.36 3.400 3.400 3.41 5.3 2.64 14.34 5.22 5.30 3.4 7.1 5.66 7.12 7.11

From the tabular presentations above, all
the interpolation models capture similar
trends in the data but LSQP model seems
to characterize the data better although it
initially underestimate the data at middle
values of % SCBA cement replacement
in concrete. r2 statistic is widely used as a
goodness – of – fit measure, however a high
r2 does not imply a good model [23]. Focusing
only on r2 can lead to selecting models that
do not have inferior predictive capability.
Instead researchers should evaluate a model
according to a combination of r2 and cross
validation metrics [24].
Cross Validation of the Models
Cross validation of the models will produce
more robust models with better predictive
powers. To establish the model that has
the best fit quality this research adopted
the LOO cross – validation approach.
Cross validation of LSQP, SEP, NIP and LIP
models gave new predictive compressive
strengths data with their corresponding r2.
The compressive strength of BA at 7, 14,
and 28days respectively, were determined
as given in table 3

Table 3. Summary of r2 for all the validated models.

r2

7d 14d 28d
LSQP 0.8508 0.8408 0.8408

SEP 0.6502 0.5374 0.6444

NIP 0.6657 0.6257 0.6665
LIP 0.6662 0.7125 0.6803

Results and Discussions
There is a noticeable difference after validation; this
reflects the fact that each predicted data point comes
from different model estimate. This shows that the
LSQP model achieves a higher cross – validated
r2 value than the other three Interpolating models.
Further, the validated r2 among the interpolation
models shows gradual increase in value to a maximum
attained by LIP. This results can be collaborated by
similar conclusion that solutions attributed to SEP
are very sensitive to round-off errors hence need
to apply NIP or LIP which do not manifest such
short-coming [16].
approximation points and their locations. Thus, LSQP
model produces reliable and accurate predication
values and could be used conveniently to estimate
the compressive strength of concrete with SCBA as
a partial replacement of cement. The strength of
conventional concrete can generally be estimated
with good accuracy based on strength charts or
by experience if mix proportions, age, and curing
conditions are known. However, when SCBA is used
as cement replacement material the exact nature of
strength development becomes complicated as such
charts or experience would be no longer applicable,
hence the need to adopt the LSQP model.

It was also observed that the main challenge with Conclusions

application of interpolation models in determination The LSQP model developed in this research is the
of goodness of fit depends on the number of ‘best’ as indicated by the validated r2 statistic which

KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 47

 BAGGASE ASH
is near 0.85. ‘best’, a term frequently used
in model simulation statistics, is a balance
between model complexity and goodness
of fit [23]. With these models, compressive
strength of SCBA concrete at 7, 14 and 28
days can be effectively predicted over a
range of cement replacement levels. The
suggested models would be of value in the
design process of such concrete mixes where
specific target strength needs to be achieved
at a certain age or can be used to modify
any basic concrete mix so that the concretes
with and without SCBA have acceptable
compressive strengths.
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48 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019
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KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019 49
 IEK
IEK Committees 2018/2020
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50 KENYA ENGINEER - Sept / Oct 2019
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MHANDISI Sacco
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