The Federal Republic of Somalia Government, through it’s Ministry of Public Works has sent a team of its engineers to Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) College of Engineering for a five weeks short course training on Roads Management.

JKUAT in collaboration with Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) is facilitating the training which has seen the Somalia Government send a group of twenty participants who are to be trained on Rigid Pavement Design and Construction, Project Management and Labor Based Technology. The training is being undertaken by the Civil Engineering Department under the School of Civil Environmental and Geospatial Engineering (SCEGE) within the College of Engineering and Technology.

Dr. Eng. Jeremiah Kiptala who is the Dean School of Civil Environmental and Geospatial Engineering (SCEGE) while opening the training officially, underscored how important the training would be to the participants pointing out how skilled labor particularly in the field of engineering has grown in demand. He exhumed confidence that at end, the engineering will have gained essential skills that would help spur the development of Somalia’s Infrastructure.

“Engineering has changed over time as resources have become scarce. In view of this predicament, as engineers, we need to use the available resources in the most

efficient way possible. This training aims to address this issue,” Dr. Eng. Kiptala said while welcoming the participants to the training.

Dr. Eng. Kiptala implored on the trainees to advantage of being in JKUAT and interact with the University’s staff as well as explore other available courses they could leverage on.

While also addressing the participants at the opening of the training, the Head of Programmes, Office of the Director General, Ministry of Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing, Mr. Abdi Abdalla called on the training participants to maximize the opportunity by to fully acquiring the various concepts that will be taught in the training and ensure they pass on the knowledge to their colleagues upon returning home.

Mr. Abdalla further commended JKUAT and JICA’s collaboration which the very reason that made the training to become a reality and hope more collaborations would be sought in the future.

Mr. John Mungai, Senior Programme Officer, JICA Kenya Office, on his part, appreciated JKUAT for the continued cooperation with JICA. He further pointed out that JKUAT was the most preferred institution to conduct the training, which exuded confidence that indeed the training would succeed and many lives would be impacted as a result.

“The Federal Government of Somalia through the Ministry of Public Works and Reconstruction has been promoting labour Based Technology as a means of creating employment to reduce poverty and to jumpstart economic recovery,” Mr. Mungai adduced.

“This practical platform will be instrumental in strengthening knowledge while raising awareness in matters road management especially where participants will meet industry players in the sector,” added an elated Mr. Mungai.

To ensure successful knowledge transfer to the rest of the sector players back in Somalia, the training participants selected are senior government officials who are key stakeholders in the roads’ sector.