The student engineer august sep 2014 issue by Mark Siro

06.

News

Attention! pg. 4

Technology

The heartbleed bug pg. 5 Security pg. 6 Goal line technology pg. 7 The art of communication pg. 10

Design German made pg. 16

25. 27.

Features

State of the nation pg. 20 Dubai's power pg. 28 The fuel cell technology pg. 31 Powering the future pg. 32 The Vactrian pg. 34 Utility mapping pg. 35 Towards sustainable energy pg. 38 What powers a modern aircraft carrier? pg. 41 Where the wind blows pg. 42

Social Commentary

45.

Alcoholism and drug abuse pg. 44 It all counts! pg. 45 Kenyan universities pg. 46 The inanimate player pg. 47

ESA

AAK career day pg. 52 General Electric career fair pg. 53 The Student Engineer

CHAIRLADY'S MESSAGE

Editor's Note people. And what is nobler than enriching humanity? With the reinvestment in the Geothermal sector, the grandiose plan of having more energy, as much as 5GW in our grid within three years are splendid. With the optimism that this shall come to pass we anticipate an invigorated economy and with engineers smiling all the way to the bank. And not just that, we shall edge

closer to the achievement of the very elusive Kenyan Dream.

hank you for taking time off to read through this edition of The Student Engineer, the first issue for the academic year 2014/2015. As we look ahead to the

For those with interest in the energy sector, we cannot fail to

year 2014/2015, we at ESA are determined to continue

appreciate that Turkana is now our haven. Olkaria projects are

to build on the dreams of this student body that is now 31 years

giving us headway and Kenya is on the move. We are a country

young.

replete with ambition and this we exploit and try to carry an incisive look into the energy situation in the country.

With each passing day your favourite journal continues to renew its sincere commitment to bring you refreshing stories in the

We have by all means carried out analysis of our sectors, their

world of engineering and beyond.

viability and usage on sustainable levels. We suggest, as our work is defined. We leave the judgement to the reader.

I take opportunity to sincerely thank engineering students for electing a new board in April 2014. We are entering this

Much of these we leave to the government. History will be our

academic year a more proficient and more efficient organization

final judge. As to whether the government commits to fulfilling

determined to put engineering students in the lead. I therefore

the Kenyan Dream or stumbling upon the past shall be the

urge you all to take advantage of the activities ESA has in store

question to behold.

for you to have a better connection to the industry, to broaden your knowledge beyond academics so as to put yourselves on

Finally I have to pass my sincere gratitude to The editorial board

the fast track to career success.

for the work well done and having come this far. The ESA chair

has not been in vain. Through the activities you have supported,

all round engineers have been churned out, engineers who have

sector to gain a greater understanding about the on going projects

a clear view of the industry. Without you ESA would not have

and the alternatives we have as a country.

To our sponsors, Jyoti Structures, Kalpataru Power Transmissions Ltd., Parsons Brinckerhoff Ltd, ACEK, KEVIAN Ltd.,I sincerely thank you for believing in us and in supporting us over the years by way of mentorship and financial support. I assure you that it

as we are about the energy sector. In this issue, we

We are very grateful for our sponsors in this issue, The University

appreciate the gesture that our government is committed

of Nairobi, The ICT authority Kenya, Power Technics and many

to ensuring that the energy sector is ablaze once again.

others we have not mentioned. Individuals and the larger student

We have engaged various stake holders in providing a view into the

This is a period where everyone understands that any nation's energy muscle is a show of its ability to sustain its economic manoeuvres. And

I wish to thank our patron, Prof Odira, office of the College

body, we thank you for your overwhelming support. Special thanks to the The Institution of Engineers of Kenya and Kenya Engineers team for their unwavering support through our

been the success that it was in the year2013/2014. Thank you for making it happen!

and your executive board, thank you for your support too.

ll indications suggest that the government is as concerned

the better your economy, the higher your status and the status of the

Principal,office of the Dean School of Engineering and Dr. Mativo

toughest of time. I wish you a nice read ahead.

K K e n n edy

i ma ni

(Ketraco) .Without your generous support we wouldn't be where we are today. We look forward to engaging with you at the varied number of events planned for the year aimed at bridging the gap between industry and academia. Enjoy your read!

The Student Engineer

Editor-in-Chief -Kennedy Kimani Managing Editor - Lewis Sakwa W Editors - Caleb Juma, Kevin Odongo, David Chege, Vallary Owino Design & Layout - Daniel Wakaba Ndungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;u

The Student Engineer @StudentEng

The Student Engineer P.O Box 30197 - 00100, Nairobi KENYA Tel: +254 722 600 392

Copyright ÂŠ Student Engineer 2014 Reproduction of any article in part or full without permission from The Engineering Students Association is strictly prohibited.

The Student Engineer

///// NEWS

TECHNOLOGY \\\\\

Attention!

The heartbleed bug The most dangerous threat to Android yet

Big brother is listening - The National Intelligent Service (NIS) feud

by Mwaniki A. Ngari

autonomy that is meant to be associated with an Intelligence Organ. I want to believe that even the infamous Special Branch had more coordination than our current liberal NIS. That is in terms of information gathering. There many more men out there in the Kenyan jungle willing to sacrifice for the right cause of this nation. Not to spy against innocent citizens of this great nation but to help us deal with the problem of intelligence gathering once and for all. But sacrifice, if there must be, must have a worthy reason. For life is sacred. NIS therefore needs to open its eyes for a professional touch and re-brand itself, not in name but in recruitment of the individuals into the sector. If only they realised how much Kenyans love their country, they would never toy around as they do...

am a disappointed man. A disappointed

While we may want to discredit the rumours

Kenyan in an acrimonious country. A

that this art of eavesdropping is targeting

country which a decade ago had the

the dissidents of politics or so to say, there is

most hopeful people on the planet but as

much ground to believe so. Times gone have

we evaluate the decade gone, with mischief

shown without prejudice that our intelligence

and intolerance we have sunk into despair,

masters have only but served the interest of The

hopelessness and God knows if anarchy is the

master. And helped him maintain what he has;

next state.

and that is power. Therefore before I am given

Despicable I would say, the plan to tap

valid reasons that the guys in The August House

into Kenyan private lives and dig up their

have reason to pass this motion I shall not rest

communication seems to be the next

on the fence or fear the blatant mark of a leftist.

gentlemanly move with the weird NIS and Army bill being introduced into the Kenyan

I shall however state categorically that the bill

Parliament. Me thinks this is not a security

is a Scourge that must not be allowed to see

measure as it is probably being said but a ploy

the doors of Parliament at this time when the

to legitimize intrusion into our normal life.

inefficiency of the Statutory body mandated with securing Kenyan lives is busy sleeping on

What the National Intelligence Service seeks

the job. I shall not shy away to mention that NIS

to do is rudimentary just like all its action

has no clue on how to handle the intelligence

beforehand. Just that the National Security

gathering process. And until such time as

Agency of The United States is rumoured to be

when it shall be able to detach itself from the

listening to the American Nation at large and

influence of Government then shall its mandate

without notice does not mean that the Kenyan

be effectively executed.

partners can do the same. You would only take a look at the inefficiency of curbing crime and

Secondly, the elites of this nation waste away

terrorism. It plays right into their priorities. They

in menial jobs. Computer Scientist, Engineers,

are clueless and have no idea when Kenyan lives

efficient intellects of all sorts would not want

are at stake.

to work for NIS. Reason is there seems to be no

The Student Engineer

Unlike NSA, CIA, MOSSAD and many more advanced organisation... even terrorist organisations, there is a basically no difference between working for NIS and the Kenya Police. The Police shouldn't take offence because of the notoriety that now enshrouds them after a floundered recruiting process. If we can revamp the Intelligence of this country by incorporating the best we have; train them well and let them

nyone who keeps up with the

million people worldwide using devices running

The Heartbleed bug has already been exploited

technology news will probably

on thus version of Android are at risk, this is

by Cybercriminals to steal tax information of

have heard HeartBleed bug in

excluding hundreds of millions of handsets in

thousands of Canadians from the Canadian Tax

the popular Android version 4.1.1

China running Android without Google services,

Authority Computers.

,which came about after July 2012 after another

which would not show up on Google systems.

less serious bug in the Nexus tablets.

know the cause they are committed to then we

The good news is to pull off a Heartbleed bug Hackers can exploit this high profile bug and

attack involves a complex process and only

shouldn't have a problem in tackling the security

Discovered in April 7 2014 by a software

obtain credit card information, browsing history

experienced hackers with sufficient resources

issue. But when recruiting is basically an affair

security firm in Finland, the Heartbleed bug

and login information of anyone using a device

can pull it off. Furthermore, a hacker cannot

of a few people, and the guys who qualify

is as result of the error in version's code. All

running on this version of Android. Sensitive

hack multiple devices at once.

hardly show any passion for the job other than

the devices running on this Jellybean version

transactions such as online banking on tabs or

monetary expectations (which is right of course)

are vulnerable to a hack described as 'reverse

tablets running on this version should highly be

A free app has been developed by Lookout,

then we remain a hopeless nation in so much

Heartbleed' - where a malicious server would

avoided as per software security experts. The

an American software Security firm, to test

as we want to tap all lines of communications.

be able to exploit the flaw in OpenSSL to grab

Blackberry Messaging Service running on this

whether a device is vulnerable; the app is

data from the phone's browser, which could

version of Android is also at the mercy of this

available on the Google Play Store. Germany

Let us therefore embrace reality and actually let

include information about part sessions and

bug. Blackberry is lining up an update to fix the

is the most affected Country where 20% of the

time have its toll. We have to begin low but with

logins. Amazingly, Google has known about the

bug though the company has not provided a

devices in use there run on the vulnerable OS

precision, both of action and mind. Otherwise

error for about a month but didn't speak about

time frame.

version.

we shall be a country torn apart by the very

it. However, a fix for the bug has already been

organs meant to protect the coat of arms we

issued by the company though it depends on

The number of devices and website vulnerable

Luckily, only version 4.1.1 uses the vulnerable

swear to. I dare say, that was a Juvenile; a rather

the device manufactures and wireless carriers

to this bug is expected to grow due to flawed

version of OpenSSL. Examples of the famous

infantile move for NIS to try to spy on me. God

on how this fix will reach the millions of the

encryption software. Any internet connected

mobile devices that are vulnerable include

Bless Kenya.

affected users.Owing to the popularity of the

device including smart TVsare also vulnerable

Samsung Galaxy S3,Samsung Galaxy Note

Open Source Operating System ,an estimated 50

to this bug.

2,Motorola Photon Q, and Huawei Ascend Y300.

The Student Engineer

///// TECHNOLOGY

TECHNOLOGY \\\\\

Security;

Are you secure; do you feel secure?

Goal line technology

by Kevin Odongo

oal line technology, sometimes

by Kevin Omondi Gor

referred to as Goal Decision System, is a method used to determine when the ball has completely

crossed the goal line with the assistance of electronic devices, hence assisting match officials award a goal. The technology comes in various system forms such as: Cairos GLT System Developed by Cairos Technologies AG, a German company alongside Adidas. It uses a magnetic

ne cannot hide from the daily

without faulting them are under motivated,

reports of insecurity that make

more often than not ill equipped and have been

the headlines in our news, within

known on occasion to protect their own lives

and without our borders. Nor can

than those of the mwananchi.

one ignore the host of guards posted outside

The government was set to award a multi-million dollar surveillance system, theIntegrated Public Safety Communication and Surveillance System' IPSCSS)tenderto the country's largest mobile network company;

buildings, who usher you with a casual flick

Technology. We need to invest in modern

of a garret against your body, hoping that

policing technology. The Governors of Mombasa

you haven't concealed a weapon or explosive

and Machakos have invested in a few items

on your person. Immediately after an attack,

off of the IG's strategic plan. They acquired a

security forces in our country are remarkably

fleet of high tech security vehicles, complete

Playground", and have been the hardest hit and

vivid. Yet, social media, the dailies opinion

with imaging and tracking capabilities; Closed

most targeted by our enemies. 60 and 20 eLTE,

pages, radio talk shows, one or two public

Circuit Television Cameras, 500 units have been

enterprise Long Term Evolution base stations in

rallies have Kenyans decrying what the security

installed in Machokos; gun detectors and police

Nairobi and Mombasa will be set up, which will

situation in the country.

dogs for policemen. Indeed, there has been

incredibly improve police communication on the

criticism meted out against such investment,

network that provides faster speeds than the

A trip to the JKIA will have you tugging at the

but if reports suggesting that the mere presence

current 3G network peak as well as the ability to

end of line of patience; the security detail

of a patrol corner round the corner reduce

seamlessly handle more data-hungry activities,

does its job- thoroughly but to the public's

crime rates by upto 15 % are anything to go

say live video streaming. Close to 200 police

inconvenience; need we have so many of them?

by, then more county governments should take

stations will be connected to this network, and

Which leads me to the question: "Can't we use

the members of their assemblies on trips to

finally 6000 high tech walkie-talkies will provide

technology to stifle the scourge of insecurity?"

Machakos instead of the US and Israel.

relief from the 1940 Motorolla -based versions that the police use today.

A guard with a garret doesn't inspire any

The government was set to award a multi-million

confidence in me, and neither should it in

dollar surveillance system, theIntegrated Public

These just form the initial investment in modern

you? A few attacks have exposed the gadgets

Safety Communication and Surveillance System'

policing that we need to make, as a country to

inefficiency; more importantly they do not

IPSCSS)tenderto the country's largest mobile

eliminate our vulnerability that comes from the

protect that particular Kenyan's life should

network company; although suspended, the

weakness humans are prone to, as we combat

something explode. Given, the Inspector

system is expected to have about 2000 ultra-hd

Insecurity in this country. a lot more needs to

General released a strategic plan that includes

CCTV cameras, in Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya's

be done to make us feel secure and be secure

deployment of more security officers, who

two cities which are considered "A Terrorists

in our country.

The Student Engineer

field to track a ball with a sensor suspended in

and match officials are notified in less than one

FIFA decide on using it in the 2014 world cup.

the ball. If the ball crosses the goal line, a radio

second whenever the ball crosses the goal line.

Thanks to the goal line technology used in

signal is sent to the referee's watch within a

The question of use of goal-line technology

the 2014 world cup tournament, the question

second.Goal minder. The system was created

began arising in the year 2000 when a referee

of controversial goal has been put to rest and

by two Bolton Wanderers fans, Harry Barnes

did not awardVictor NosaIkpeba's (Playing for

Benzema's goal became the first world cup goal

and Dave Parden after their favorite team was

Nigeria) goal in the penalty shootouts during

awarded with the help of the technology. The

relegated due to a wrongly disallowed goal. It

the Africa cup of Nations final between Nigeria

goal line technology, dubbed the Goal Control

uses high speed cameras built into the goal

and Cameroon. Television replays, however,

4D, was developed and installed by GoalControl,

posts and crossbar to record images at 2000

showed that indeed the ball had crossed the

a German company. The system used 14 high

frames per second and deliver visual evidence

goal line after bouncing off the crossbar.

speed cameras located around the pitch and

to the referee in less than five seconds. The

directed at both goals with seven pointing at

system is thought to be cheaper because less

Previously, in the FIFA world cup of 2010 and

each of the goals. The cameras continuously

expensive cameras are required and the field

others before it, whether the ball crossed the

captured the position of the ball in 3D whenever

does not have to be dug into.

line or not would entirely depend on the referee

it neared either ends of the pitch. All the 12

and his assistants. Many such controversies over

stadiums in Brazil used in the tournament

GoalRef

goals have been reported. In 2008, FIFA out-

were equipped with the system of cameras

GoalRef was developed by German research

rightly rejected the technology having tested

which were responsible for tracking the ball

institute Fraunhoferin association with Select

a system by Adidas in which a football with an

movements on the field and with high accuracy,

Sport. It entails a passive electronic circuit

embedded microchip would send a signal to the

determined if the ball had crossed the goal line

embedded in the ball and a low frequency

referee when it crossed a sensor on the goal

or not. Every time the ball crossed the goal line,

magnetic field around the goal. Any change in

line, with FIFA president, Sepp Blatter saying it

the system detected this and sent encrypted

the field on or behind the goal is detected by

was only 95% accurate. The technology seemed

alert to the watch of the match official. It is

coils embedded in the goal frame. As soon as

to be on its last death bed when International

worthy to note that the final decision to award

the ball crosses the goal line between the posts,

Football Association Board (IFAB), which is

a goal or not still fell on the official of the match.

a change in magnetic field is detected. A goal

responsible for the laws governing soccer games

alert is then instantaneously sent to the game

voted 6-2 against the use of the technology.

officials.

The technology however, did not go through

However, after several refereeing errors

without criticisms especially after it caused

at the 2010 FIFA world cup, especially

confusion in the Honduras Vs France group

Hawk-Eye

Frank Lampard's disallowed goal against

match in the 2014 tournament. The initial video

It was first developed in 1999 by Dr. Paul

the Germans, Blatter announced that they

replay showed that the ball had not crossed the

Hawkins and engineers at Roke Manor Research

would re-open the goal-line technology

line. The technology however, sent the referee

Limited-a subsidiary of Siemens. It is based on

discussion.

an alert that the ball had crossed the line. This

the principle of triangulation where high frame

caused confusion with fans booing. There have

rate video cameras track the ball in flight. The

Finally after testing and deliberations, FIFA

been criticisms especially with some saying

software calculates the ball's location in each

in December 2012 announced they would

that the technology slows down the match

frame by identifying the pixels that correspond

introduce the technology in the 2012 Club

and it takes away the human element which

to the ball and is able to predict and record

world cup in Japan. It also featured in the

is more exciting when the official has to make

its flight path. The system is almost real time

2013 Confederations Cup, a success that saw

his decision without the aid of any devices.

The Student Engineer

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KENYA SECURITY INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION Taking Care

REPUBLIC OF KENYA MINISTRY OF TRADE

The Student Engineer

///// TECHNOLOGY

TECHNOLOGY \\\\\

The Art of Communication Health Perspective

by Lewis Sakwa

Base stations

from their back surfaces or towards the top or bottom. This is particularly

interference between mobile phone calls and also prolongs battery life

ou look around you and wonder what the continuity of the

sites called 'base stations.' Base stations use radio signals to enable

relevant as there is a public perception that exposure is stronger directly

and, hence, extends talk time. The output power of mobile phones is very

masts is for? What is the name given to all the infrastructure

communication of mobile networks. They are made up of three main

under antennas. Therefore, when antennas are mounted on buildings,

low. During a call, and depending on whether it is a 3G or 2G handset,

that while we communicate efficiently, companies reap profit

elements which include

the exposures in rooms directly below the antennas are lower than

the output power can vary between a minimum level of less than 1 μW

in the area in front of the antenna. Base station antennas generally

up to a peak level of 2 W. The maximum average power of a handset is however less than 0.25 W.

from? Basically the series of masts intervalled at distance are called base stations.

••

Antennae

transmit outwards and not from their back, top or bottom surfaces so

Mobile networks are made up of an interconnected series of antenna

••

Supporting structure

exposures are lower in those directions. Mobile phones on the other

••

Power source

hand have antennas that are almost equally effective in all directions

The area served by a base station is termed a 'cell'. When the caller

to ensure reception, regardless of the phone's position. Whatever the

moves from one cell to another, the system hands over the call from one

Base station transmitter power levels may vary considerably, depending

equipment, the strength of a radio wave (called power density) decreases

base station to another seamlessly, so the caller is unaware of the change

on the size of the region, or cell, that it is designed to service. The output

dramatically as it travels away fromthe antenna. In free space, the power

of base station and the associated output power fluctuations caused by

power of indoor base stations is even lower and similar to that of a

density decreases to one fourth when the distance is doubled. In reality,

moving either closer to or further from a base station.

mobile phone. Base station antennas are typically about 15-30 cm in

the power density levels reduce much quicker than that due to obstacles

width and up to a few metres in length, depending on the frequency of

such as, trees, buildings, etc. Although it may be considered desirable

Base Station antennae types

operation. They are usually mounted on buildings or towers at a height

that base station equipment is placed in industrial areas or areas remote

There are many types of antennae used at base stations but we shall

of 15 to 50 metres above the ground.

from habitation there has to be a balance. Equipment placed too far

highlight only six.

from the users not only gives poor communication quality but also cause the phones to increase their output power to sustain the connection,

(also called radio waves) in patterns that are typically very narrow in

thus decreasing battery life and talk time.14 Also, each base station can

energy to a narrow angular sector in the forward direction.

the vertical direction (height) but quite broad in the horizontal direction

only support a limited number of simultaneous calls. As the number of

Antenna output power is typically 10 - 80 watts, and the

(width). Because of the narrow vertical spread of the beam, the RF field

subscribers grows more base stations are needed and these need to be

compliance boundary for the public may then extend 1 - 8 meters

intensity at the ground directly below the antenna is very low. The RF

close to where people want to use their phones.

The Student Engineer

Micro cell antennae: Typically a small sector antenna with

from the base station and then decreases at greater distances from

Site design considerations

output power of a few watts for providing coverage over short

the antenna. For a few meters, directly in front of the centre of the

During the last decade the design of mobile communications equipment

distances (typically 300-1000 meters). It is often mounted on an

antenna, the RF fields may exceed the permitted exposure levels. In order

has developed significantly, with a general trend to smaller, more

existing building, where it can be disguised as building features.

for the public to be prevented from entering areas where the permitted

efficient equipment offering equal or greater functionality. Creative

The compliance boundary has the same shape as for a sector

exposure levels may be exceeded, the antennas are elevated, and when

antenna and mast design is capable of significantly reducing the visual

necessary fences, locked doors, or other means of restricting access

profile of mobile communications infrastructure. This has proven to be

(with appropriate signs if needed)may be implemented.

a popular approach especially where the base station will be located in

together on masts. The combination illustrated here is that of

an aesthetically or environmentally sensitive area. It is not suitable in all

an omni-directional antenna mounted above a cluster of three

Directivity of base station antennas

locations because there may be some reduction in technical performance

sector antennas. The compliance distance may be larger than

So, where there is a greater concentration of the electromagnetic

when using smaller antennas. In addition, some community groups

for the individual antennas.

radiations? On what side of the base station of the telecommunication

have criticized mobile network operators for 'hiding'antennas.This is

mast are you safe?

not always possible for base station antennas as radio engineers can

concentrates its RF energy into a narrow beam in the forward

antenna ••

••

Antenna farms (or clusters) Antennas are often grouped

Radio relay antenna (or fixed point-to-point link) it

achieve optimum performance when antennas are mounted on high

direction. Power levels are typically low, less than 1 watt, and

Base station antennas are designed to transmit the radio signals in a

structures (or the top of buildings) away from physical obstruction such

safety distances a couple of centimeters.The parabolic dish

reasonably flat beam to optimize coverage. Antennas have 'gain, that

as other buildings and trees.

antenna is one example ••

is to say that the transmitted energy is directed towards area where

Sector antennae: Restricts most of its radiated electromagnetic

from the front face of the antenna. ••

field intensity on the ground increases slightly as one moves away

A television transimission mast

••

These antennas transmit Radio Frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields

Omni-directional antenna: This type of antennae radiates

people use phones so as to maximize coverage with the lowest possible

Mobile phones

electromagnetic energy equally in all horizontal directions.

output power.

When a mobile phone is switched on, it listens for specific control signals

Output power is typically 10 - 80 watts, and the typical

from nearby base stations. When it has found the most suitable (usually

compliance boundary for the public is 0.5 - 2 meters from the

At ground level the maximum measured exposure is generally a small

the nearest) base station in the network to which it subscribes, it initiates

antenna.

fraction of the exposure limit and will typically occur at distances between

a connection. The phone will then remain dormant, just occasionally

50 and 300 m from the base station. The distance is dependent on

updating with the network with information such as location, until the

localized coverage inside buildings where coverage is poor

characteristics of the site such as the antenna, the height and surrounding

user wishes to make a call or is called. Mobile phones use Adaptive

or where there are a high number of users such as airport

buildings and the surrounding terrain. In general, base station antennas

Power Control as a means of reducing the transmitted power to the

terminals, train stations or shopping centres. The power level

direct their power outwards, and do not transmit a significant amount

minimum possible whilst maintaining good call quality. This reduces

is similar to that of a mobile phone. The compliance boundary

••

Indoor antenna: Also sometimes termed Pico cells and provide

The Student Engineer

///// TECHNOLOGY continued from pg. 11.... is located within a few centimeters of the antenna. Regulation In the end of it all there must be a regulatory body charged with responsibility

TECHNOLOGY \\\\\

Thin sim Technology at the Centre of SafaricomFinserve wars

by Kevin Odongo

based tech company F-Road. The successful application of the technology in China with an estimated population of about 1.5 billion people is a clear indication that the technology can

Why Python?

be used to make banking and other financial services available to a large number of people with maximum returns.

to ensure that the radiations from the base stations are not harmful and that they

Kenya has an estimated mobile subscriber

do not interfere with the health of the

base of about 30.5 million people accounting

residents of the environs.

for about 93% of the total population. Another 73% are estimated to be users of mobile money.

Another concern is bourne by the service

Furthermore, 23% are said to use mobile money

provider. The Cells of communications

at least once a day. The number of mobile

need to be close enough to enhance

subscribers continue rising and so is the number

reliability. While the building of many of

of mobile money users as people seek more

base stations closer to aid in the speed of

available banking services without having to

communication is a recommended choice

visit the banks. Cash payments are rapidly

for the telecommunication companies, the

being replaced by mobile-phone payments in

balance must be struck.

virtually all sectors of the economy.

The size and shape of each cell is determined by the topology of the area

Now I think the introduction of the thin

of coverage and other environmental

SIM technology by Finserve is promising

factors that could block signals. Cells are

ve r y i nt e re s t i ng t i m e s a h e a d fo r t h e

largest in flat open landscapes, where they can cover a radius of several kilometres. Cells in urban areas typically cover up to a two kilometre radius. The smallest cells, covering a few tens or hundreds of metres, are in built up areas, where micro-

quity Bank , through its wholly

SIM, hence enabling other providers to provide

telecommunication and banking industries.

owned mobile vir tual net work

services through the overlay SIM network

It has the potential of doing better than

o p e r a t o r ( M V N O ) s u b s i d i a r y,

without interfering with the operations of the

Safaricom's MPESA if well implemented. It

Finserve Africa, is planning to roll

primary SIM.

promises better services at better costs. These wars are going to be beneficial to the customers

out thin sim overlay technology which would compete with safaricom's money transfer

Once the thin SIM is stuck onto a primary SIM

in the end. Safaricom will have to improve or

cell base stations are used to provide extra

and telecommunication services. These plans

card, users can access services on both the thin

see its customers prefer Finserve's product.

coverage and capacity. They serve to boost

however, did not go well with Safaricom who

SIM network and the network of the original

the network coverage.

wrote to Communications Authority of Kenya

SIM card onto which it is laid. The company

Meanwhile, it seems Safaricom is also not left

saying the thin SIM would pose great risks to

providing the thin sim technology is Taisys

behind in trying to bridge gap between banking

Each base station can only handle a limited

the privacy of mobile subscribers and interfere

Technology Ltd Company of Taiwan which also

services and clients:

number of connections at a time. In areas

with normal operations of the primary SIM

holds the patent for the technology.

of high demand, additional antennas are

cards onto which they will be planted. Safaricom

sometimes added to a base station to

had also asked the communications regulatory

SIM overlay technology was initially developed

send and receive more calls and other

body to ban Finserve from using the thin SIM

by Chinese Mobile Network Operators as a

mobile services, or an extra base station

technology. Finserve refuted the claims by

mobile phone solution to support multi operator

Safaricom and Kenya Commercial Bank signed

is installed.

writing to the regulator saying Safaricom's

access, designed to avoid roaming fees- a

a deal that will see line between banking and

allegations were "little more than attempts to

concept that Roamly, a Canadian company has

telecommunication continue to blur. Under

quash competition".

successfully applied globally to solve roaming

the agreement, safaricom and KCB will jointly

problems that arose when a user travelled

roll out different products with financial and telecommunications features.

All this means a large number of base stations are needed to allow more

Biashar@Smart: Safaricom-KCB deal to target Small firms

people to use more mobile services, from

A thin SIM is an ultra-slim layer of plastic with

across countries. A situation that always forced

more locations, and for coverage to be

a circuit printed on it. A user can stick it on

them to buy local sim cards of the countries

continuous when they move around. Most

to an existing SIM Card to continue accessing

they were visiting or incur higher charges in

First off was the launch of Biashar@Smart,

people welcome improved coverage and

the original network, but with the added

transferring to the mobile operator network of

a product targeting small and medium

services. But we recognize that expanding

functionality of the secondary provider. It

the country they are visiting. This technology

Enterprises (SMEs), and that has different

our network can cause concern, usually

ideally converts single SIM device into a dual-

has made it unnecessary to carry two phones

financial and telecommunication aspects. The

about the visual impact of base stations or

SIM device. Touch points built into the overlay

while on a foreign trip.

product will give businesses access to credit,

health issues concerning radio frequency

filters information between the two. The

(RF) fields.

hardware enables a means to store and carry

Use of the thin SIM technology for financial

data storage, domain hosting and professional

programs logic independent of the primary

solutions was pioneered by the Shanghai

email services.

The Student Engineer

insurance services, business advisories, online

hile majority of us think of a large

software, read its source code, make changes

tropical snake, Google and other

to it and use it in new programs. This makes

dozen blue chip companies are

python even better since its based on concept

making billions using this new technology. Still,

of community which shares knowledge. This

others are shunning from it citing its simplicity

community constantly improves the language

and beginner oriented. Python programming

and provide valuable documentation.

language has recently gained popularity among developers, hackers, academia and

Its Portable

other communities world wide. In this article

Owing to its open-source nature, Python has

we the ins and outs python and what makes

been ported to all major platforms by many

such a darling.

developers all over the world. All your Python programs can work on any of these platforms

Guido van Rossum, the creator of the Python

without requiring any changes at all if you are

language, named the language after the BBC

careful enough to avoid any system-dependent

show "Monty Python's Flying Circus ". Python

features. Thats write once and deploy to all

is an easy to learn, powerful programming

platforms: Windows xp, 7 and 8, Linux, Apple's

language. It has efficient high-level data

Mac OS.

structures and a simple but effective approach to object-oriented programming. Its elegant

Its interpreted

syntax and dynamic typing, together with its

While programs written in compiled languages

interpreted nature, make it an ideal language

like C/C++ need to be conver ted from

for scripting and rapid application development

source code to binary and linked to execute,

in many areas on many platforms.

interpreted languages on the other hand need only to be run from their source code. Python

Its simple

being interpreted is thus much easier since

As already mentioned, the simple and

the user not need worry about compiling and

minimalistic language is its greatest strength.

linking. This process is handled internally. This

Reading a python program feels like reading

make python ideal for prototyping and rapid

English. In short, it allows you to concentrate on

application development.

the problem solving rather than the language itself.

Its object oriented In object-oriented languages, the program is

Its free

built around objects which combine data and

Moreover, python is an open source software.

functionality. Python has a very powerful but

It means you can freely distribute copies of this

simplistic way of doing OOP, especially when

The Student Engineer

///// TECHNOLOGY

INFORGRAPH \\\\\

CGI, FTP, email, XML, XML-RPC, HTML, WAV files, cryptography, GUI (graphical user interfaces) and much more. All this are always available wherever Python is installed! This is called the 'Batteries Included' philosophy of Python. At its website (www.python.org) , success stories section: 'Python is part of the winning formula for productivity, software quality, and maintainability at many companies and institutions around the world. ' You can read the enlisted 41 real-life Python

Library (ies)

Notes

Pandas

Statistics and data analysis

success stories, classified by application domain. Among the top companies using python:

Numpy Scipy

Includes modules for graphics and plotting, optimization, integration, special functions, signal and image processing, genetic algorithms, ODE solvers, and others. (Scipy + Numpy are talternate to Matlab)

Google, Mozilla, CERN( Large Hadron Collider ), Nasa, Objexx Engineering, ForecastWatch, Esri, bitly among among hundreds others.

Django/Flask/Bottle

Web development frameworks

GIS Web services

Packages to access to Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps and more information

us to produce maintainable features in record

. (geopy & googlemaps)

times, with a minimum of developers' Cuong

'Python is fast enough for our site and allows

Source: https://pypi.python.org/pypi

Do - Software Architect, YouTube.com Python has been an important part of Google

compared to big languages like C++ or Java.

since the begin-ning and remains so as the

Combining the advantages of OOP and its

Guido van Rossum, the creator of

system grows and evolves. Today dozens of

simplicity, gives the language a big plus.

the Python language, named the

Google engineers use Python, and we're looking

language after the BBC show "Monty

for more people with skills in this language -

Extensible

Python's Flying Circus ". Python is an

Peter Norvig - Director of Research at Google

If you need a critical piece of code to run very

easy to learn, powerful programming

Inc

fast or want to have some piece of algorithm

language.

not to be open, you can code that part of your

Python is indeed an exciting and powerful

program in C or C++ and then use them from

language. It has the right combination of

your Python program.

performance and features that make writing Extensive Libraries

programs in Python both fun and easy. What

Embeddable

The P y thon Standard Librar y is huge

more? Its my hope that I've convinced you

You can embed Python within your C/C++

indeed. It can help you do various things

somehow and that you're yearning to learn

programs to give 'scripting' capabilities for

involving numerous functionalities as regular

some python. Of course go learn: who knows

your program's users. Blender and AutoCAD are

expressions, documentation generation, unit

what next big thing you could bring fourth...

example program's using python for scripting.

testing, threading, databases, web browsers,

The Student Engineer

///// DESIGN

DESIGN \\\\\

ome to the legendary Adolf Hitler the Nazi leader. This is the image that comes

One of the very interesting brand of the Volkswagen Company known as the

to anyone's head at the mention of the word Germany. Ironically Germany is

Volkswagen beetle. It "froglike/bug like" appearance makes it one of the most

home to the world's most precise engineering in the automobile industry. It

interesting cars admire. The car basically originates from the earlier mentioned

has been traced that the perfection has been drawn from, the ages of Adolf

Adolf Hitler. Hitler wanted a cheap, simple car to be mass-produced for the

and world war. Now let's see how necessity is the mother of invention.

new road network of his country. He contracted Porsche in 1934 to design and

Let's take a review on some of the leading brands in the world

build it to his exacting standards. Ferdinand Porsche and his team took until 1938 to finalize the design. This is one of the first rear-engine cars. With over 21 million manufactured (21,529,464) in an air-cooled, rear-engine, rear-wheel

The Student Engineer

Volkswagen

drive configuration, the Beetle is the longest-running and most-manufactured

Commonly known as the VW in most parts of the world, but in Kenya it is known

car of a single design platform, worldwide. The rules were very simple he

as the Passat (of which Passat is a brand of the Volkswagen. This is so because

assembled all engineers available in Germany at that time and then he would

it is the dominant brand of the Volkswagen group in the region and also it has

ask them, "how many think it is not possible to build a car that is air-cooled,

been known as a favorite choice government officials for its high performance

rear-engine and with rear-wheel drive configuration?" whoever raised his/

power and fuel efficiency. It has three cars in the top 10 list of best-selling

her hand was just a bullet in his/her head. And that was the birth of the

cars of all time compiled by the website 24/7 Wall St: the Volkswagen Golf,

Volkswagen Beatle. German historians estimated that 80% of Volkswagen's

the Volkswagen Beetle, and the Volkswagen Passat.

wartime workforce was slave labor.

The Student Engineer

///// DESIGN Audi's slogan is Vorsprung durch Technik, meaning "Advancement through Technology".Recently in the United States, Audi has updated the slogan to "Truth in Engineering. Commonly known in the transporter movie is the Audi A8, A7 in the movie Iron man and Q7 which is the dominant SUV brand in Kenyan streets. Ford Germany Ford-Werke is a German car manufacturer headquartered in Niehl, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia and a subsidiary of Ford of Europe, which in turn is a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company. Not well known but when one meets a ford ranger where the roads end, the mouth goes agape. Mercedes-Benz It is also a German automobile manufacturer, a multinational division Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW)

of the German manufacturer Daimler AG. The Mercedes is the most

Bayerische Motoren Werke English: (Bavarian Motor Works), commonly

luxurious official car in Kenya, preferred by most top-ranking officials in

known as BMW or simply Beemer and even some call it the ultimate

the country. You will find it as the most dominant brand in the presidents

driving machine. Founded in 1916. One of the most iconic brands in

escort team. Mercedes-AMG, McLaren Mercedes, Maybach are some

the world, known for sheer driving pleasure high power and efficient

of the super cars in the world sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3

driving dynamics. Is headquartered in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It also

seconds. The E class and S class are filled with technology beyond their

owns and produces Mini cars, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce

scope, an S class for instance can detect a bump ahead and adjust its

Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad, which

suspension to compensate for the rough ride, and in fact you can drive

holds several world racing titles.

through a rough road as if you were swimming in butter.

BMW is part of the "German Big 3" luxury automakers, along with Audi

Adam Opel (Opel) is a German automobile manufacturer

and Mercedes-Benz, which are the three best-selling luxury automakers

headquartered in Russelsheim, Hesse, Germany and a subsidiary of the

in the world. One of the most known brand is the BMW m3 which has

American General Motors Company. The company designs, engineers,

dominated in most rally championships and received as the car with the

manufactures and distributes Opel-branded passenger vehicles, light

best handling according to top gear. Another upcoming BMW product in

commercial vehicles and vehicle parts.

Kenyan streets is the BMW X6 the show stopper, statistics have shown that 7 out of 10 people must comment whenever the Machine passes by.

A sports car that could be simply defined as a son to the famous

Some of the tech advancements brought by the BMW are the

Volkswagen beetle. In August 2009, Porsche SE and Volkswagen

antilock brakes, X drive, I drive, electronic stability control and many

AG reached an agreement that the two companies would merge in

more.

2011, to form an "Integrated Automotive Group". The management of Volkswagen AG, which had resisted relinquishing the power to control,

Audi

agreed to be owned (50.7% of Volkswagen AG ordinary shares with

Audi is a German automobile manufacturer that designs, engineers,

voting rights) by Porsche SE in return for VW acquiring control of

manufactures and distributes automobiles. Audi oversees worldwide

Porsche AG.

operations from its headquarters in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany. Audibranded vehicles are produced in nine production facilities worldwide.

Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH is an automobile manufacturing

Audi has been a majority owned (99.55%) subsidiary of Volkswagen

company based in Buchloe, in the Ostallgau district of Bavaria, Germany

Group since 1966, following a phased purchase of AUDI.

selling their own cars, based on BMW cars. Alpina works closely with BMW and their processes are integrated into BMW's production lines,

The four rings of the Audi logo each represent one of four car companies

thus Alpina is recognized by TUV as an automobile manufacturer, in

that banded together to create Audi's predecessor company, Auto Union.

contrast to other performance specialists which are aftermarket tuners. For instance, the Alpina B7 is produced at the same assembly line in Dingolfing, Germany, along with BMW's own 7-Series. And now this will be home to the world's most popular trophy, the FIFA world cup. This was after beating Argentina 1-0 in Brazil July 2014. Well done #teamgermany

The Student Engineer

Energy State of the Nation Dubaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s power The fuel cell technology Powering the future Towards sustainable energy

///// FEATURE

State of the nation Where do we stand in the energy sector?

FEATURE \\\\\ there is safe and sufficient provision of energy to its populace. That in

Kenya Power Company as of now. The industry is headed by the Energy

the end the Energy harnessed during their eras see the nation through a

Regulatory Commission which has been mandated to license sector

monumental shift to enable people drive their lives to yet another level.

entities, regulate tariffs, ensure service quality and coordinate the planning process.

We take an incisive look into the Kenyan energy sector. Instead of who by Lewis Sakwa

owns Kenya, we might ask who powers Kenya?

How energised is the country is a question that beckons... The country has a Hydro Electric capability of about 745MW, an approximated

he nation is on the move; industries must arise and economy

he has. While doing so he must ensure that the conversion of energy

must be built and rebuilt despite the political turmoil and

from one form to another is such that there is a utility it shall achieve

exasperation observed here and there... because we know

in changing the life of a people.

this too shall pass. For it is like chasing the wind. Unlike this matter which is most discussed in all avenues probably

With this, he must strive to understand that, energy being inherently

because it affects only today which is everyday, we have to subscribe

multiform must be used with care to ensure that the environment from

to simple principle of Conservation of energy- Energy, just like matter

which it is being harnessed or converted to yet another form is not

can neither be created nor destroyed. So what must man do? Man must

endangered. That the ecosystemic balance is maintained at all costs.

find a way, a method to harness, and conserve for posterity the energy

In modern day governments are tasked with this role. To ensure that

The Kenyan energy sector rotates about the following players: There

300MW of Geothermal Production and 398MW of thermal power

are those who are charged with the mandate to of policy formulation

production, 5MW of Wind energy 31MW of co-generated energy as well

and planning and funding who include The Ministry of finance, Ministry

as 16MW of off the grid energy supply. It is estimated that this country

of Energy and the Development partners. The other players include the

has a 6000MW potential for hydro electric generation

Geothermal Exploration and production mainly under the Geothermal Development Corporation (GDC), there are also those involved in the

Major sources of commercial energy in Kenya are petroleum,

electricity generation which mainly done by Ken Gen and Independent

geothermal and hydro energy. 75 % of population use traditional solid

Power Producers (IPPs). There is the Transmission and Distribution

fuels such as fuel-wood and charcoal in residential sector for heating,

companies; a role that is played by Kenya Transmission Company and

light and cooking. The residential sector contributed 81 % of energy consumption in 2009. Further development of the use of biomass and extension of national electricity grid would reduce this consumption greatly. Electricity demand in the country is significantly rising mainly due to the accelerated productive investment and increasing population. Electricity capacity It is however true to state that Kenya has weak and restricted transmission and distribution network. Kenya's electricity mix is dominated by hydro generation (over 50%) and thus highly vulnerable to weather conditions and climate change. The climatic conditions of 1998-2000 and 2008-2009 curtailed hydro power generation and led to severe energy shortages which culminated into power rationing. Currently the electricity demand is 1,191 MW against an effective installed capacity of 1,429 MW under normal hydrology. The peak load is projected to grow to about 2,500MW by 2015 and 15,000 MW by 2030 which means huge changes in energy sector. Government has formulated strategies whose objectives are to rapidly expand installed electricity capacity, expand and upgrade the transmission and distribution networks, and develop renewable energy sources: geothermal, solar, wind, biomass and small hydro power General situation in Energy sector Heavy reliance on hydro electricity has costed us much including the infamous power rations. These require a solution. Hydro electricity despite its heavy investment is too dependent on the climatic patterns and if there be a shift in climatic conditions then the country shall suffer a massive setback in its desire to develop and achieve the blue prints of 2030. It is the desire of the government to be able to produce more than 5000MW by 2030. it is also the current government's encapsulation that it should be able to scale to those heights in the next three years plans we are so proud of. Given the fact file stating that only 15% of the rural population has access to power as of 2011, it would be appreciated that the government has got market for the power. However, if this is to succeed then it follows that there is need to ensure that the rates of transmission and distribution are let to be lower to enhance the capability of the common man accessing the power.

A geothermal power plant

The Student Engineer

///// FEATURE

FEATURE \\\\\ 2009

1990

Total energy consumption

217.6TWh

127.2 TWh

Energy consumption per capita

5.5MWh/capita

3.2MWh/capita

Electricity consumption

5.81TWh

2.75TWh

Electricity consumption per capita

147kWh/capita

Access to electricity

16%

Access to electricity urban population

51%

Access to electricity rural population

Energy imports (% of energy use)

17%

Electricity imports (% of electricity use)

0.16%

Power production capacity

1621 MW

723 MW

Hydro power production capacity

747 MW

498 MW

Electricity production

6.88TWh

3.23TWh

Hydro electricity production

2.85TWh

2.54TWh

Share of population using solid fuels

75%

Fossil fuels % of total energy

17.5%

Sustainability

18%

16.8%

power and probably control like 70% of the nuclear resources.

It is therefore out of question that this country can rely on hydro electricity given the foiling of our weather patterns. The players in the

Nuclear investment is a magnanimous venture. It requires not only the

sector, researchers and all stakeholders must give a thought to other

financial muscle but also preparedness that is missing in this country.

sources of energy. Nuclear energy would be a clear way to go. If this

There is need to develop efficient disaster management capacity to be

country is to achieve the belated MDGs and eventually culminate to

able to handle any unforeseen calamities that may come with such a

vision 2030 we need to embrace a rapid initiative that would propel us

hefty investment. This we can not run away from it; that this country

to the heights of industrialisation. To be able to carry out this we need

has a pathetic system of handling disasters even those of miniature

an overhaul of the system of generation of power. We need to defy all

levels. And if this is not improved, then our quest to join the "League

odds against the anti nuclear messengers who of course have nuclear

of Nations" can not be authenticated. That shall be for safety and

A section of Olkaria III geothermal power plant in Kenya

as a precautionary measure. South Africa long joined these nations.

generating approximately 212 MW, compared to a potential estimated

It is up to the incoming performers to ensure this happens even to

at 7,000 MW to 10,000 MW. As forecasted in Vision 2030, Kenya

our beloved Kenya. The advantage being, the energy is renewable and

aspires to generate a total of 15,000 MW, 5,000 MW of which will come

its continuity provides for the maintenance and recovery of the initial

from geothermal. In pursuant of this goal, Geothermal Development

capital investment. There is need for The Kenya Nuclear electricity

Corporation (GDC), plans to drill 1,400 steam wells to provide steam

Board to carry out awareness and demystify the misconceptions held

for the generation of 5,000 MW of geothermal power by 2030. This will

by many of us, scholars included.

require a reported $18 billion in capital investments in the geothermal

Nuclear energy is clean energy. It has lesser implication on the ozone

sector in the coming years.

and there are hardly emissions that go with it. With the advancement in technology, there is more improved measures to ensure that there

Consumption of electricity in Kenya is extremely low at 121 kilowatt

is no repeat of the incidents of nuclear related accidents.

hours (KWh) per capita. Only about 29% of Kenyans are connected to electricity while the connection rate in the rural areas is estimated

While that is said, there is need to understand that Nuclear Energy is not

at 15%. Fortunately, this situation is rapidly changing as the country

completely 100% emission free. It should be recognised also that the

invests more resources in power generation, transmission, and

plants cannot run without government subsidies and also while carrying

distribution. Kenya is quickly developing its geothermal resources with

out the investment, development partners would not easily come into

22 developing projects, three of which are under construction and

play because of the risk that is involved. This may serve as a deterrent

expected to be operational in late 2014. This country is one of the fastest

to the sector development. However with the right mechanism in place,

growing geothermal markets in the world. The government is moving

the sector can run the national grid non-stop

a substantial amount of resources into building up its geothermal

As earlier indicated, the sustainability of nuclear energy is relatively in

infrastructure. GDC is developing the steam resource at three primary

higher standings as compared to the other sources of clean energies.

resource areas (Menengai, Bogoria-Silali and Suswa). Through GDC, the

This is because of constant technological advancements that are making

Kenya government is planning on contracting with Independent Power

sure that the whole process is better and safer. If this is adopted then

Producers (IPP's) to sell geothermal steam/brine at the plant fence for

any country can safely adopt this form of energy for posterity. However,

use by the IPP's to convert the resource to energy through a power

there is a greater medical risk whenever we have a nuclear reactor

conversion contract.

explosion or destruction. People have to be evacuated and the land becomes a wasteland contagious in nature and therefore inhabitable.

GDC is also evaluating potential joint development agreements with private developers to assist in the development of the new steam fields.

Koeberg Nuclear plant - South Africa

The Student Engineer

Geothermal Exploitation and Sustenance

In addition, the Kenya government is encouraging private development

According to the 2013 Geothermal Power: International Market Overview

of additional resource areas through concession agreements with

Report, Geothermal exploration began in Kenya in 1957 and is presently

private IPP's.

The Student Engineer

///// FEATURE Right now 296 MW of the over ~1,000 MW of geothermal under

FEATURE \\\\\ Region

Installed capacity

Potential

Africa

0.2

143

Nort America

4.1

218

Latin America

0.5

132

It would therefore seem that the way forward is Geothermal which is

Europe

1.6

renewable and available in the country given our geographical location.

Middle East

0.0

With a capacity of close to 300MW against the probable capacity of

Pacific

1.2

7000MW we have an approximate 96% of our resources unexploited

Developing Asia

3.2

195

which should serve to set task upon mind to be able to exploit these

Transition Economics

0.1

166

development in Kenya are physically under construction. If all projects are completed on time we will lead the world with substantial additions to the existing geothermal infrastructure over the next decade and become a centre of geothermal technology on the African continent.

resources. It would therefore be right to say that the sustainability of Geothermal Power in Kenya has a better outlook than the other sources

It is conclusive that Africa as a continent has unlimited capacity in terms

of energy especially the Hydro electricity. The government therefore

of geothermal energy potential which has not been invested in.

ought to develop the capacity of manpower specialised more in the Geothermal exploration and do more on ensuring that this sector of

there are however a number of reasons that may be attributed to the

energy, is fully harnessed for the provision of clean energy.

slow investment in this sector which require immediate tackling. Some of them include but are not limited to:

Geothermal Power: State of The world

••

Large Upfront cost of geothermal exploration and development

Only 0.1-0.3 % of world energy demand is met by geothermal, despite

••

High Risks Associated with Resource Exploration and Power

a theoretical 1 TW power potential and 30-60 TW in direct use . The industry is slowed down by green field risks, large

development ••

Inadequate skilled manpower and equipment for geothermal

New Strathmore university green building

Resource Exploration and development upfront capital investment, and power generation costs exceeding

••

Limited national budgetary allocation and donor funding

other locally available options .The human resource pool, number of

at which we are harnessing this form of energy. The GDC must

••

Inadequate Private Sector Participation in the region

development companies and investors willing to enter the industry are

come up with ways through which they can mitigate to provide more

••

Lack of Supportive government policy and Regulatory

opportunities to train and if possible include in the tertiary, more

While this is being done, Strathmore University has gone solar a trend

framework

specifically, Engineering curriculum Geothermal technologies to be

that now places them on another level of quick and efficient imagination

able to confront the cases of manpower shortage

unlike its competitors whoa re still stuck to the old easy and accepted

also limiting factors . Rising prices of fossil fuel is changing the scene . Current growth rate is few hundred MW per year while the potential is in the GW range

There is therefore a need for capacity building to improve the rate

upon it by other consumers.

methods of energy harnessing. This has been an initiative of Prof. Da Solar Energy Development

Silva, the Director of Energy research Centre at Strathmore University.

While there is a general acceptance that solar energy harnessing can

According to the researcher, Kenya only accounts for 2% of the solar

be one of the most consistent sources of energy for this country, there

installation yet it sits on the Equator with the sun all through. 98% of

is a general lax in the way the energy stakeholders are taking up this

the installations are in countries that are out of the equatorial belt.

challenge. Kenya has more than half of the 580367 sq. Kilometres of

There is a challenge when it comes to solar in that there is lack of

land as an ASAL areas. Solar farms would go a long way to providing

awareness and there is no specific solar industry in this country.

for almost all the homestead energy requirements. There are few solar

Nevertheless, Strathmore University has installed a total of 2400 PV

farms in this country one of them being The SOS farm in Mombasa

solar cells and a total of 30 inverters, a venture which is costly but

which has close to 132 PV solar cells. If there is the use of the mono-

commendable in all respects. This is set to provide a total of 600KW of

crystalline technology, then there would be an assured continuity of

power enough to power the whole institution. The project was funded

power generation in these sites. Development partners involved in

under the Green Fund by the Cooperative Bank of Kenya.

such projects would want to often be aware that they can be able to be enjoined in the national grid so as the venture is beneficial. Africa

It can be seen that our energy options are wide and many. Many of

is endowed with the sun as a resource for development of energy.

them are unexploited and yet to be put to full utility for the advantage

However, it can be introspected that lack of funds in these projects

of the citizens. However as engineers and innovators, there is need to

that require heavy initial capital set up has been the hindrance towards

inquire of ourselves if the trend that has been set is the one we seek to

ensuring that this clean energy is tapped.

maintain or if there is a way, revolutionary yet accepted through which we are going to facilitate the industrial growth by harnessing the energy.

Vents at a geothermal power plant

The Student Engineer

Plans are however under-way to ensure that the solar capacity of this

Are we bound to work in all day long in the office with the acceptance

country are bolstered. Kenya has identified nine sites to build solar

of the inefficiency that is seen in the energy systems or are we going

power plants that could provide more than half the countries electricity

to change the trend. While we accept the truth that as individuals we

by 2016. Construction of the plant is set to cost an approximate of $1.2bn

do not have the financial muscle to make corporations that shall solely

and is on going as of 2014. There are plans by the Rural electrification

run the Kenyan energy sector, we must prepare ourselves to do the

authority to put up a solar plant of about 50MW in Nanyuki Kenya. This

practical jobs, of checking

shall go along way in relieving the national grid of the demand placed

The Student Engineer

ADVERTORIAL \\\\\

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he ICT Authorit y in par tner ship

Or any other engineering course in the

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with Huawei Technologies Ltd are

telecommunications field.

Visit www.icta.go.ke for the application form.

offering internship opportunities to

The application process has 4 Parts;

engineering students starting August 2014.

Which University and what year should the

The programnamed "Telecom Seeds for The

student be in?

Part 1: Consists of Non-Technical Questions on

Future" will run for a period of three years. The

The student applying must be from any

an online application form, published on the

partnership aims to increase employability of

accredited and Chartered university and in 3rd,

ICTAuthority website - ALL applicants must

university engineering students by extending

4th or 5thyear of their engineering course.

complete all questions in Part1.

How long will the program take?

Attachments: You will need to attach

This internship will be for a period two months.

the following documents to your online

Below are some basic facts about the

The program will be ongoing for the next three

application:

Program:

years and is expected to benefit atleast 100

studentswithin the three years.

ii) Copy of your latest transcript certified

training and internship opportunities to them and subsequent consideration for employment.

To apply go to www.icta.go.ke

by your university What is the duration of the training and

What is the name of the program?

internship?

The program is known as the Huawei "Telecom

Two months (8 weeks)

Seeds for the Future" and will run for a period of three years (August 2014- August 2017).

Copy of your student ID

iii) Copy of National ID Note: Only Shortlisted candidates will be contacted to move on to the next stages

When is the program expected to commence?

Part 2: Consists of Simple Multiple Choice

What is the program about?

The call for applications will be in August 2014.

Questions

The Huawei Telecom Seeds for the Future

Interns will be expected to start working at

Part 3: Consists of Detailed Knowledge based

program is an internship and training program

Huawei at the start of September 2014. Full

questions

targeted at 3rd, 4thand 5th year University

details of application are available on www.

Part 4: Face-to-Face interview

students pursuing undergraduate degrees

icta.go.ke

in Engineering. Students must be Kenyan Nationals.

Are there additional benefits for the

After successfully completing the program,

students?

students will begiven a certificate. Successful

The initiative will see top ten internsoffered a

students will also get professional mentorship

chance to further their skills in China, through

opportunities by Engineers at the Institute of

Provide students with an

a cultural exchange program. Details will be

Engineers of Kenya (IEK) with the possibility of

opportunity to learn about the latest

shared at the time of joining.

becoming a registered engineer by IEK

What is the aim of the program? ••

What do I get after completion?

Telecommunications technologies ••

Develop local ICT talent

Do I expect a job after completion?

Who are the sponsors of the program?

••

Applyknowledge gained in class to a

We do not guarantee jobs but we will do our

It is an initiative by Huawei Technologies Kenya

field setting.

best to assist interns by linking them up with

Co. Ltd in partnership with ICT Authority.

Promote a greater understanding of

ICT companies and other potential employers.

and interest in the telecommunications

Huawei will also give priority to the best students

Where will be the internship be based?

sector

and consider them for employment depending

Interns will be based at Huawei Technologies

Build a regional understanding of

on available opportunities at thecompany upon

Ltd Nairobi office.

ICTand a network of digital professionals

the student's completion of the internship.

••

Contact Details: Which courses should thestudents be

This will be based on Huawei's business

If you need more information write to:

undertaking?

and project needs upon completion of the

skills@ict.go.ke or kenyaintern@huawei.com

••

Electrical Engineering

internship/training and other Terms and

••

Computer Science

conditions.

••

Telecommunications

The Student Engineer

///// FEATURE

FEATURE \\\\\

Dubaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s power

Some of the coolest features of the Dubai mall are Kidzania by David Chege

It will be built with the state of the art technology to reduce

Quite a number of major Malls in Kenya could easily be parked inside

energy consumption and carbon footprint, ensuring high

the currently world's largest shopping mall still in Dubai, a 20 billion

levels of environmental sustainability and operational

dollar project with more than 1200 shops inside. It is the world largest in

efficiency," says Byat, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai holding.

retail history. However it is not the largest in gross leasable space, and

This comes shortly after the vice president and prime minister

is surpassed in that category by a few malls like the, south China mall,

of the UAE and ruler of Dubai after His Highness sheikh Rashid Al

goldenresource mall, and SM mall of Asia. Sprawling over 12 million

Maktoum, launched the world's first temperature controlled city, mall

sq.ft. slightly more than 50 soccer pitches.

Dubai Aquarium

This is a city specifically made for kids to run and enjoy themselves. Here

This is the key center piece the largest tank of its kind inside a mall. The

the kids can do all sorts of things that adults do in meticulous detail.

aquarium stands at 51m x 20m x 11m and features the world's largest

They can fly aeroplanes, drive cars even buses, work as cashiers, work

viewing panel at 32.8m wide and 8.3m high. Over time the , the Dubai

in the restaurants and many more. This is where children live their

Aquarium will have more than 33,000 living animals, representing more

dreams before they even dream.

than 85 species including over 400 sharks and rays combined. Dubai aquarium's 270 degree glass walkthrough tunnel makes it possible for incredible close counter experiences.

of the World. It will be the largest occupying 48million sq. ft. it will compose of the largest indoor theme park in the world, which will be covered by a glass dome that will be open during winter months.

The sega republic Here you enter a nation addicted to adrenaline. This is the regions first SEGA indoor theme park a mind altering, visually stimulating, adrenaline-pumping attraction. Here rebel against the senses on go into system overdrive.

The Student Engineer

///// FEATURE

FEATURE \\\\\

Reel cinemas

The fuel cell technology

Imagine a whopping 22 screen all under one roof, a redefined cinematic experience with sensory overload. Now let's leave the world offantasy for a while and ask ourselves just one simple question.Where does Dubai get power to feed this mall which is

by David Chege

just but a very small fraction of what it actually generates? Let's solve which can be dispensed at hydrogen stations

it by elimination.

in about the same time as gasoline. Nuvera a Bear in mind that hydro-electricity power can simply not exist in a desert.

company preparing for the future in the United

Dubai has no rivers of its own not even an oasis. However it does have a

States is setting up fuel ports for fork lifts in

natural inlet, the Dubai creek which has no possibility of HEP production.

anticipation of the larger passenger car market in incubation.

Solar panels simplycannotbe reliable in places such as the 24hr mall especially at night and in winter with the massive consumption of

The lack of hydrogen fuelling infrastructure

megawatts. Being also in the desert the sand storms may cover the

means that fuel cell vehicles will likely be

panels and the small size of Dubai which can't handle the large surface

targeted at a few niche markets, such as

area required by enough panels to feed the whole city.

fleet vehicle operators or environmentally minded consumers in cities equipped with a

Ice Rink In Kenya you will only find one at Panari but not as large as the one in Dubai mall. It's the magical winter wonderland Ice Rink now imagine one so big just next to one of the world largest sandy deserts, where mercury easily pass the 40 degree mark on the thermometer, and its temperature must remain slightly below 0 degrees Celsius. Whether you want to learn ice skating, perfect your technique, play ice hockey, socialize with friends or just have a great time its open any time of the year.

Another source of power is tidal energy. This is where tides are allowed

few hydrogen fueling stations. Although car

to rise water gets trapped and then released as it turns the turbines to

manufacturers are showing a lot of interest

produce electrical energy. This however is limited by small size of the Dubai coast and the quest for land reclamation for construction. Intact the world's most luxurious hotel rests on land reclaimed from the sea at the coast of Dubai, the burj Al Arab. Another activity that could rule out the use of tidal energy would be the placing of the world in Dubai. These are islands being constructed at the coast of Dubai with the shape of the world. Wind energy could be a major consideration but on the other side of the coin Dubai's winds are seasonal and at times very destructive. This makes wind energy highly unreliable for high and consistent megawatts of electricity. We are almost out of ideas for the source of power for such a great consumer city. The secret behind the source of energy is natural gas as the main source of fuel for power generation. But still a problem lies behind the story. Natural gas is non-renewable. Can it really last forever? Can it cope with the ever growing demand for electricity? Definitely no and it will therefore have come up with a plan to protect the future generations. Researchers and engineers in Dubai are currently studying plans on how to start power generation from clean coal by 2020 and nuclear energy by 2030. Those will make up about 30% of on Dubai's electricity generation capacity, while also seeking to cut 30 % from overall demand by implementing efficiency measures.

in ecofriendly sources of fuel and more so the

Chevrolet volt fuel cell concept

fuel ell. The costs are higher than conventional

t's amazing how time is zooming against

atoms to form water. In the process electrons

technology, but now technology is already

are released and flow through an external

past time and its waiting for the slow

circuit as an electric current.

moving time to hit 2015 for it to show what

it does have for the world. This comes after the

It's amazing that fuel cells can vary from tiny

leading car manufacturer Toyota announces

devices producing only a few watts of electricity,

the fuel cell technology, though the world is

right up to large power plants producing

not ready for it so it has to wait until 2015 for

megawatts.

the grand unveiling. The design of the fuel cell is two electrodes Basically a fuel cell is a battery that produces

separated by a solid of liquid electrolyte that

electricity from an electrochemical reaction. In

carries charged particles between them. A

both a fuel cell and a battery chemical energy

catalyst normally platinum is often used to

is converted to electrical with heat energy as

speed up the reactions at the electrodes.

a byproduct. However a battery holds a closed store of energy within it and once it is depleted

Fuel cell types are generally classified according

it is either recharged using an external supply of

to the nature of the electrolyte used.

electricity to drive the electrochemical reaction in the reverse direction or discarded.

Fuel efficiency standards and carbon emissions limits set by governments around the world

According to this new era of the fuel cell that

have forced automobile companies to invest

is about to shift how thing work, an external

in new technologies which is really expensive.

supply of chemical energy rather than electrical

To lower the cost of research and development

and can run indefinitely with a source of

automobile companies are creating a number of

hydrogen and oxygen (air).

shared development plans. Ford and Toyota for example have a partnership to develop hybrid

This gives a promising future for Kenyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s petroleum industry, which is heavily pregnant currently. 30

The Student Engineer

The source of hydrogen is generally referred

power trains.

to as the fuel and this gives the fuel cell its name although there is no combustion

Especially in North America, natural gas can

involved. Oxidation of the hydrogen takes place

be, the demand for fuel cells is pretty high

electrochemically in a very efficient way. During

and favored by the low cost of natural gas.

oxidation, hydrogen atoms react with oxygen

Natural gas can be reformed into hydrogen

vehicles. If global collaborators can reduce the cost subsidiary the appeal for fuel cells could grow. Regardless of how fast each approach is adopted, it looks like the auto industry route to electrification will ride on battery-electric, fuel-cell and hybrid vehicles. We are expected to see the launch of the first fuel-cell powered vehicle later this year and land in the market in 2015 which will happen to be Toyota Japan having the honors. Hyundai promises to follow the same route and have their first fuel cell in 2017, Ford, Renault-Nissan and Daimler will also join hands and develop technology to make "affordable mass- market" fuel cell vehicles by 2017. GM and Honda will be pushing on a partnership that will work on production of fuelcell powered vehicles. Since 2009 the cost of the fuel cell vehicles have fallen. The prototypes that Toyota and GM built in a few years ago cost well about ksh 100 million each about the cost of most high end super cars. Now Toyota says its goal is to sell its fuel-cell sedan for less than ksh 1 million. The costs fell as Toyota found ways to reduce the number of parts in its fuel cell system and decrease the amount of costly platinum needed. The company says it is pushing hard on R&D for manufacturing technology, among other things to lower the cost ahead of the launch.

The Student Engineer

///// FEATURE

FEATURE \\\\\

Powering the future Economic priorities and its implications

of every Kenyan.

This would mean that the cost of the energy powering the industries be cheap as well. While

by Lewis Sakwa

However, the modalities of power plant

in Ethiopia power production and distribution

construction are best left to those who have

from the dam is almost begun, Kenya has not

been in the industry and probably handled

begun the construction and neither is there

projects in that sector to be able to foretell the

a ground breaking focus to cope with this

success of the project. An additional five Giga

competition. It remains unlikely too that it is

watts production will cost the government 330

very necessary for the project to be given the

billion Kenyan shillings. That is probably one

go on. This does not mean that it should not

quarter of our current budgetary needs. This

go on. While it should go on, evaluation of an

will in turn require that we have donors willing

alternative way of power sourcing ought to be

to invest in this project.

in place to ensure that our upcoming projects would be well catered for.

An insight into this was given by Eng. Julius

Riungu, the Chief Executive Officer of Tsavo

When queried about why Ethiopia was more

Power Company Limited. In his languid office

likely to replace this nation as an economic hub,

from where everybody in the city is below you,

Eng. Riungu was particular about the cost of

we had a chat with him. Eng. Riungu appreciates

living and labour in our neighbors in the North.

the ambition but he has probably a reserved

While a CEO in Kenya bags about 0.7million

doubt about the validity of the project. In the

Kenyan shillings, the Ethiopian counterpart

course of the chat we sought to know why he

probably takes home an equivalent of Kshs.

felt the plan might not be wholly achieved.

70,000/= . he further says that in a production

According to this long time Kenya Power

system where both production of power and its

executive, we would require donors who would

distribution under the same body, there is heavy

in turn seek to see the ability of loan repayment

government subsidy which brings the cost of

by the government. On this he argues that while

production down. The two factors are key to

we may be convinced that we could have the

the conquest of our dear country by Ethiopia.

ability to consume the produced power, he hints

However, it is good to note that the country

at a situation where the market would not be

in the North is still dependent on us. This is

able to consume all the power produced. This is

where innovation, good will and intuition ought

because, despite the industrial capacitation that

to come in. Ethiopia for long has not had the

we are witnessing in this country, the growth

capacity to produce its own goods. It relies on

of the industries within the next three years to

imports from overseas which are not in any way

consume an extra five Giga watts of power is

brought in through a port. With the relations

fully doubted. Also, the prospect of building a

between Ethiopia and Eritrea severed we stand

five Giga watt plant in the same period of time

to benefit from it. Not long ago, the Government

is not feasible. He postulates that the project

of Kenya set up an ambitious project called the

could be spread in given timelines and phases

LAPSSET. This seeks to build a new and larger

that would lead to project evaluation and

port at Lamu to serve not only Kenya but also

market ability analysis.

increase the handling ability of cargo with the

t has been a tough climbing for sub Saharan

developed the idea of powering industries on

Kenya included. It is the economic viability of

ambitious plan to revolutionize the energy

countries struggling to break free from the

electricity. This brought in Tesla who in the end

the engagement.

sector. There are plans to have an injection

Further the cost of electricity in this country is a

enough clients to use it. It would be recognized

savagery of war that has torn the region

strove not just to transmit and power, but to

of 5 Giga watts of power into the national grid

little more expensive than in the other countries,

that many of our neighbors are landlocked

and made it inhabitable. But we however

transmit the electricity in a better way such

The same debates of powering industry are still

in the next three years. As of now our power

Ethiopia for example. There is a worry on his

among them being Rwanda, DRC, Uganda, South

must agree that Kenya's consistency in the

that it would not only be safer but also cost

with us here as we struggle to move Kenya to

generation ability stands at 2 Giga Watts on

face with this project since Ethiopia has unitary

Sudan and now Ethiopia. Under the LAPSSET

effective in its production and transmission.

a middle class economy. Projections indicate

the higher side of approximations. The target

system of power generation and distribution

project there are :

We are still at issue with the very essentials

that Kenya might be the fastest growing nation

is not an extra 3 Giga Watts. It is an ambition

which has consolidated the sector and in which

Energy drives the economy. Energy powers our

Tesla looked into. We seek to produce power

as relates to the movement to the middle class

that seeks to put up power plants which in that

case has made the cost of power lower. Further,

••

Lamu Port and Mandi Bay

daily lives. In the earlier days of the American

safely; for posterity of human kind, in which the

economy. However, to spur this we need to

case should swell our production to about 8

the construction of a mega dam on River Omo

••

Standard Gauge Railway from Lamu to

industrial fathers, the likes of Cornelia Van Der

focus would be coined Green Energy, a debate

power our way to a different industrial level all

Giga watts. Very ambitious plans that will of

would and as expected has aggravated the

Bilt powered the country on steam from coal.

for another day. The very issue that led to JP

together. In which case the government is fully

course not just see us rise to a different level

situation. On an introspective level, investors

The industry was pushed further with Edison's

Morgan abandoning Edison is of importance to

aware of. And its ambitions are large enough.

of industrial achievement but also spur an

and industrial moguls would look for a country

discovery who with the help of J P Morgan

both micro and macroeconomics of any state,

The government of Kenya has put in place an

exponential economic growth. This is the dream

where the cost of production is cheaper.

recent past is indication to better days.

The Student Engineer

expectation that upon completion we shall have

Juba ••

Oil Pipeline to South Sudan, Kenya and Ethiopia

••

Oil Refinery

The Student Engineer

///// FEATURE

FEATURE \\\\\ vision 2030 where we have new cities coming up

and in reasonable phases implement the 5GW

for specifics like manufacturing- Tatu City and

project in an amicable way such that the built

As it can be seen here, these are ambitious

for technological empowerment- Konza City. If

Railway can be powered, The communication

projects which when finished, will not only set

we refocus and put our energy in achieving this

systems, 1600KM of NOFB is functional and

us on the path of prosperity but will assert us as

we may rediscover that it would be possible to

that we can power our oil refinery in Turkana

the economic power house in the region. The

convince or even lure investors in any sector,

and help South Sudan export its oil through

Government therefore has to take another look

especially energy to come in and help us power

our pipeline. All these can be achieved but

at its priorities and in this case throw pundits

our future.

under a moderate plan that can be realistic to

••

Airports at Lamu, Isiolo and Lokichogio

Utility mapping

“Energy is one of the infrastructural enablers of the three pillars of vision 2030…” by Caleb Juma analysis can help a maintenance crew to know

sustainable funding.

aside and begin the construction of the SGR.

the shortest path to an affected(black out) area

Alongside these, we must as a country seek to

Before this goes down, we lack the authenticity

build manufacturing and industrial towns and

in our claim that the market in this country

Let us therefore focus and harness the talent to

and a buffer zone can be used to estimate the

empower them to be able to produce more

can consume five Giga watts of power without

bring forth the Kenya we want, not in a hurry

number of consumers being served by any

products especially finished end products for

having a problem. Definitely, we need a re-

but through agreeable means that as a nation

particular transformer.

the consumption in Ethiopia. We have to move

ignition in the industrial sector to give credibility

we can sustain and be proud of. In the words

from exporting the raw agricultural products

to our desire to power them. We need to fulfill

of President J.F. Kennedy, let us work together

To carry out the above, data on the area of

to other countries and set focus on processing

the market need; we need the demand first and

knowing that God's work,down here on earth

interest has to be collected and stored in a

them in the near future. This may be achievable

then we can get as easily as possible the supply.

must truly be our own.

Geodatabase. If the data is in analogue form

if we still give another look at the blue prints of

However, it would be necessary to forecast

e.g. topographical maps, then the same has to be scanned and georeferenced. Once this has been done, digitization is carried

Vactrian;

out to create layers as well as generate tabular information to establish relationships between

The future of travel?

various electrical assets and the consumers. All of these will be used in analysis.

by Mwaniki N Ngari One of the software solutions in this field is the ArcFM UT.

through the sound barrier, because there'd be no air for them to create sonic vibrations in.

ArcFM UT is a versatile platform for carrying out spatial processes. It provides extensive

The vactrain are considered a good way of enhancing transcontinental travels. It could allow for rapid intercontinental travels and establish routes to form a global network. With such transport system installed in Kenya, it would take you less than four minutes to travel to Mombasa from Kisumu and possibly less than ten minutes to travel to neighboring Uganda or Tanzania.

f you think the 500MW plan by the

of up to 6400, or 5-6 times the speed of sound

However, the cost of building such systems

government is ambitious then probably you

at standard conditions. At this speed, brake

is extremely high. Elevated concrete tubes

have not heard of the Vactrian.

failure is something no one would ever want

with partial vacuums have been proposed as

to think about. Giant pumps would be used to

alternatives to the vacuum trains.

The vactrain is a Vacuum Tube Train capable

keep a near vacuum in the tube, probably 30-

of cruising at a speed of 2KM per second that

40km apart. The main areas for leaks would

One can never guess right where technology

is 7200KM per hour!!.It is the future of rail

be end stations. The trains would pass through

will have our current systems in the future;

transport.

a series of airlocks that progressivelyreduce

innovation is clearly unpredictable at times.

the pressure until the train enters the fully

The Vactrian idea is still in the pipeline though.

The vactrain ,technically, is a maglev line

evacuated tunnel where it could accelerate to

While Kenya is celebrating getting at the

run through evacuated (air-less) or partly

top speed.

standard gauge railway stage, some nations are

evacuated tubes or tunnels. The lack of air

looking at the possibility of railway transport

resistance allows the vactrain to use little

Operating in a vacuum, these "vehicles" would

power and to move at extremely high speeds,

make almost no sound, even as they smashed

The Student Engineer

on other levels.

functionality covering network documentation,

asset management, maintenance, customer

his is one of the most important

according to the World Bank) of citizens can

information management as well as planning.

statements in Kenya's blue print on

access electricity. This means that more than

It can be used to:

socio economic development.In one

three quarters of the population, a large share

way or another, the energy source

of which is rural, is in the dark. Nairobi, the

••

Capture data

stressed above is Electricity. This 'clean' form

capital city too has its own power problems

••

Document the electricity line network

of energy will go a long way in ensuring that

with blackouts being the order of the day during

••

spatially view data

certain months.

••

aid in the maintenance of the network

••

plan and design new networks

Kenya becomes a middle income nation by the year 2030.

Vandalism on the existing power lines and Electricity has a myriad of uses. It can be

transformers has further deteriorated the

All in all, the software is easy to implement,

used to light households, start computers

situation. In the end, national electricity utility

maintain and customize to an organization's

and photocopiers at the office, move rollers

companies such as Kenya Power and KETRACO

preference. The software also provides uniform

in industrial establishments as well as power

find themselves besieged with expanding their

handling of common objects across a number

Posho mills in local villages around the country.

network and maintaining the existing lines.

of utility branches i.e. water, electricity, waste water and telecommunications.

In addition to this, the use of electricity has an added advantage of combating the ever

Utility mapping is a modern day geospatial

increasing global warming associated with

technolog y that enables companies to

It is my hope that KETRACO and Kenya power

burning fossil fuel like Kerosene.

visualize (i.e. showing the whereabouts of

will utilize this technology in their upcoming

various utility lines) and analyze their data

projects and fulfill the crucial objective of

Even though Kenya stands to benefit from this

within a spatial context with an aim ofmaking

connecting every household to the grid faster

great commodity, only a small number (16.1%

informeddecisions. For example, proximity

and more efficiently.

The Student Engineer

Faculties, Schools, Institutes and Centres. UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI

UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI 00

Centre for Biotechnology & Bioinformatics

School of Biological Sciences

Open and distance e-learning centre

School of Physical Sciences

Faculty of Arts

School of the Arts and Design

Faculty of Agriculture

S c h o o l o f t h e B u i l t Environment

Fa c u l t y o f Veter i n a ry Medicine

School of Engineering

Institute of Anthropology, African and Gender Studies

School of Business

Institute for Development Studies

School of Economics

Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies

School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Institute of Nuclear Science

School of Law

Institute for Climate Change and Adaptation

School of Continuing & Distance Education

Institute for Tropical and Infectious Diseases

School of Education

Population Studies Research Institute

School of Dental Sciences

Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies

School of Medicine

School of Mathematics

School of Nursing Sciences

School of Computing and Informatics

School of Pharmacy

School of Public Health

Vision A world class university committed to scholarly excellence Mission To provide quality university education and training and to embody the aspirations of the Kenyan people and the global community through creation, preservation, integration, transmission, and utilization of knowledge.

FACT FILE Student Population • 62,000 Staff • 5500 Research fund • Kshs 3B Alumni • 146,000 Courses • 517 International links • Over 400

Contact: P.O Box 30197,00100 - Nairobi | Tel: +254-020-318262 Ext: 263 | Fax; +254-020-245566 email: pr@uonbi.ac.ke www.uonbi.ac.ke

///// FEATURE

FEATURE \\\\\

Towards sustainable energy Long term perspective of nuclear energy

by Lewis Sakwa

frican states have to move to

2015 knocks they have not been achieved to

It is a fact that no single source of energy

curb the spread of fear of Clean

the later.

generation is devoid of shortcomings. So is the

Nuclear Energy. To be able to

nuclear sector. Kenya has vast lands that are

sustain the industrial needs of

An economy is driven by energy. It is therefore

unoccupied ranging from the scantily populated

a country there is a need for a

mandatory that we move away from usage

counties of North Eastern Kenya to the South

stable power production system. Nuclear Power

of traditional sources of energy such as the

rift. Under proper expatriate guidance and

plant would be one such investment. Kenya in

biomass which is relied upon by most of the

with the right policies which require of course

particular bathes itself in the blueprint of vision

sub Saharan population. In this regard there is

political goodwill there are possibilities of

2030 which unless handled with the efficacy

need for us to dispel any fear thereof cultivated

developing nuclear reactors stable enough to

that is required shall be a sham just as the

either out of fear or ignorance so that we set

solve the county's long lasting energy problem.

global millennium development goals which as

this country moving.

Coupled with the other subsidiary energy

production sector the implementation of such

power. Nuclear energy brings a combination of

neutron and splitting. The result of the fission

a project would take this country to another

strengths and weaknesses.

of these large atoms is the creation of new,

level and it would bring the vision 2030 closer

smaller atoms as byproducts, radiation and

than it looks.

Nuclear Power Basics

It is therefore necessary to elaborate at

A nuclear Power Plant

creating a chain reaction. The chain reaction is

length the nuclear energy sector from an new

Nuclear power is generated inside a plant called

controlled by neutron moderators, which vary

perspective while reflecting on its pros and

a reactor. The power source is the heat produced

depending on the design of the reactor. This can

cons to decisively enable the forthcoming crop

by a controlled nuclear fission chain reaction,

be anything from graphite rods to simple water.

of engineers a different outlook in order to spur

either of uranium or plutonium. Uranium is the

Once the heat has been released, a nuclear

industrial growth in this country.

major source of the nuclear energy consumed in

reactor produces electricity in exactly the same

the world. Uranium was discovered by Klaproth

manner as any other thermal-based power

Concerns over global warming and the spike in

in Germany in 1789 and named after the newly

plant. The heat converts water into steam, and

oil prices have renewed worldwide interest in

discovered planet Uranus. Uranium was largely

the steam is used to turn the blades of a turbine,

nuclear energy, and with it renewed concerns

a scientific curiosity for many years and only

which runs the generator.

over nuclear safety. As a growing commercial

used as a yellow pigment in glass and ceramics.

industry, nuclear power had been moribund in

Uranium was first confirmed in Australia as a

A nuclear accident that resulted in loss of

the United States since the 1970s. Yet 15 percent

mineral in a cobalt deposit in Carcoar, NSW,

control over the fission chain reaction would

of the world's electricity comes from nuclear

in 1894. Becquerel discovered radioactivity in

be extremely hazardous. The danger is that the

uranium minerals in Paris in 1896 and uranium

heat produced would outstrip the ability of the

and its daughter product radium quickly rose

reactor coolant to cope, potentially allowing

to fame. The main use for uranium for the next

the nuclear reaction to run wild. This could

40 years was as a source of radium for cancer

cause system failures which would release

therapy and luminous paint.

radioactivity into the environment. In the case

more neutrons. Those neutrons speed out and strike other uranium/plutonium atoms,

of an extreme failure, the result would be a Nuclear power has a very good safety record

nuclear meltdown, where the reacting nuclear

except for Chernobyl where 31 died in 1986

material burns or melts its way through its

and controversy still rages about how many

containment vessel into the ground and then

have died since or will die. Three Mile Island in

into the water table. This would throw a huge

the United States was a total loss but not one

cloud of radioactive steam and debris into

person died or was injured. Deaths from fossil

the atmosphere. Accidents of this type have

fuel industries are very high. Comparing the rate

the potential to release radioactivity over an

of deaths in nuclear power plant generations as

immense area. A small, well-contained accident

compared with the other potential sources of

might just contaminate the power plant, while

energy, the deaths are very low. At Chernobyl

a major one could result in fallout being spread

31 died immediately though the argument rages

worldwide. While nuclear power has become

as to how many hundreds or thousands may

progressively safer with the introduction of new

die in the future. It is estimated that more than

reactor designs and technologies, it still carries

6,000 coal miners died in China in the recent

with it a risk that no other source of power does

past. Hundreds have perished in the Australian coal industry in the last 25 years ! Yet the

According to the U.S. Department of Energy,

industry does not receive as much criticism as

when all costs are factored in, nuclear power

the nuclear sector does. While long term effects

costs an estimated $59.30 per megawatt hour.

are there, the death rates are not as sporadic

This is expensive when compared to other

and appalling as in the coal mining industry.

means of generating electricity. For example,

These are very worrying statistics and make

clean wind power is $55.60/MWH; coal $53.10/

you realize that coal industry is a dangerous

MWH; and natural gas $52.50/MWH. While a

place to work.

country like Kenya might want to base on the argument of high initial cost which solely an

An illustration of a nuclear turbine

The Student Engineer

A nuclear reaction involves elements, such

econometric concern there are more befitting

as uranium or plutonium, being struck by a

benefits that would otherwise warrant the

The Student Engineer

///// FEATURE investment.

FEATURE \\\\\ strictly local area.

they are heightened by the fact that the nations have not undertaken enough research on the

It is agreeable that capital costs are high due

On the other hand, we can derive advantages

nuclear waste management and disposal. While

to high level of quality and redundancy for

of using nuclear energy. We take a look at a few

it may be argued that waste from the reactors

safety but are coming down;especially with

listed below.

such as plutonium may pose a big risk countries

the technological advancement in the power

What powers a modern aircraft carrier? by Caleb Juma

interested in clean energy cannot be tamed

production and management. Fuel costs are

Nuclear fuels are derived from uranium and

because there is a phobia of plutonium reaching

much lower than coal or gas over the plant

plutonium. Uranium is available in plentiful

the hands of the terrorists.

lifetime. Therefore lifetime costs are lower in

quantities in the United States, and plutonium

many countries, for example France, Finland,

is created as a byproduct of the nuclear fission

Plutonium is claimed by some to be the most

Japan, China, Korea, Russia, eastern states of

process (indeed, breeder reactor designs

dangerous substance on earth, and is too big

Canada and USA.

maximize plutonium production). Replacing oil

a risk to counteract the benefits of nuclear

burning power plants with

power. The basic fear arises from its use in

Cost of waste management is not high and is

the bomb on Nagasaki. Very few scientists, or

funded by a charge on every kWh produced; it

nuclear power plant would therefore be

the public, realize that plutonium is generated

is factored into the cost not like coal and gas.

helping with achieving energy independence.

inside the fuel in every nuclear power reactor

Cost of air pollution with coal is very high and

Indeed, France gets more than 75 percent of

and provides 20-30% of the heat and electricity

potential cost of global warming is enormous.

its electricity from nuclear power precisely

produced. It has been used safely in reactors

The power generated and its stability should

because of a national energy independence

for 50 years.

be a factor to consider over other sources of

policy. It is therefore a prerequisite that for

energy referred to as clean sources such as the

such projects to be established we must have a

Plutonium has also been processed in tons

football fanatics, the 4th was when Germany

hydro power. This is especially in developing

policy in hand that can ensure that the success

amounts over that time without any serious

made mincemeat of the French in the

nations that have to rely on climatic patterns in

is guaranteed. The high capital cost of nuclear

accident

quarterfinals run of the world cup. To naval

order to generate the power for their industries.

plants is claimed by some to make nuclear

The adoption of the nuclear power generations

power uneconomic, but the lower fuel costs

to the public. Of course it is dangerous, but

naming of United Kingdom's largest warship,

would do better for the sub-Saharan Africa and

are often overlooked. When all costs are taken

there are many more dangerous substances in

the HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Africa as a whole.

into account, the leveled cost of electricity from

common use which can and have killed many

a nuclear plant is economic against many other

people including act of 'God'.

Spent fuels from a nuclear power plant are

in the hearts of individuals across the globe. To the Americans this is their Jamhuri day, the day they

got free from the shackles of colonialism. To

enthusiasts, this date will remind them of the makes any self-respecting political leader of an

subjected to in the primary coolant loop.

opposing country to think twice before waging UK is in the process of building two aircraft

war. Although the carrier is a darling of all world

The water is then pumped around the core by

carriers, the 65,000 ton HMS queen Elizabeth

navies, only a few can afford it with the USA

powerful pumps. After picking up heat, the

Anti-war and anti-nuclear critics claim that if a

and its sister ship, HMS prince Wales. Even

forms of energy in many countries

radioactive and highly toxic. They also pose

he 4th of July will remain embedded

taking a large share of this exclusive club with

primary coolant transfers this energythrough

security risks, as a terrorist who acquired a

Nuclear energy does not involve burning

country has nuclear power and uranium and a

though HMS Queen Elizabeth will begin its

10 active carriers. The entry barrier to this big

the walls of the tube to a lower pressure

substantial amount of nuclear waste could

fossil fuels, and therefore does not in any

research program then these will lead inevitably

Royal service in 2020, a lot of pomp and

boy club is simply the costs associated with

secondary coolant, evaporating it to pressurized

construct a so-called "dirty bomb," with the

way contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

to nuclear weapons. The facts are that only 5

colour went into the naming ceremony. The

building, powering and servicing the ship.

steam for use in a steam turbine. The steam

purpose of spreading radioactive materials over

In this respect, it is as clean as solar, wind,

major and 2 other countries have developed

Queen even got a chance to participate in an

The modern aircraft carrier is powered via a

is fed through a steam turbine connected to a

a large area. An accident or attack involving

geothermal and hydro power. The problem

nuclear weapons over 50 years whereas over

old English tradition by smashing a bottle of

nuclear reactor. The reactors in US carriers

set of speed reduction gears then to a shaft

radioactive waste would likely contaminate a

before developing nations look immense but

100 have signed the Non Proliferation Treaty

whisky onto the hull of the ship, via a button

are pressurized water reactors(PWR) that

used for propulsion. Direct mechanical action

and agreed not to develop them. A decision to

of course. About 3,500 people were present

can run on low enriched uranium or on high

by expansion of the steam can be used for a

have nuclear weapons is a political decisions

including the incumbent prime minister, David

enriched uranium. Unlike commercial land

steam powered aircraft catapult, the ones used

not a technical one. If that decision is taken

Cameron who described it as a 'proud day' for

based reactors, the fuel rods are not UO2 but a

to launch aircraft from the decks of the carrier.

it is possible for a state to develop weapons

his country. However, the cost of this pride was

metal zirconium alloy. The reactor sizes range

The cooled light water in the primary circuit

relatively easily, but not a terrorist group. This

a whopping 6.2billion pounds!

up to 500 megawatt with refueling after ten or

is then returned into the reactor vessel to be

more years. This reduces the hustle that most

heated again.

decision does not rely on having nuclear power.

The Student Engineer

Developing nations therefore have to take up

The aircraft carrier is the single most

ships have with regards to fuelling at the ports

the role. And in so doing they ought to harness

menacing ship in any blue water navy of the

they call.

this power of nature to better the lives of the

world. Its main purpose is to carry, deploy and

people. Kenya in particular shall enjoy this in

recover aircrafts. One such carrier, the Nimitz

The nuclear fuel in the reactor vessel undergoes

of the warship. Due to its high radioactivity,

a more special way. Understanding that any

class can carry up to ninety aircraft! In other

a fission chain reaction releasing heat in the

it requires special handling which is always

nations achievement industrially are based on

words, this chunk of metal is a mobile ocean

process. Light water is used as the primary

expensive. Two schools of thought are used in

its energy reliability then it is a high time we

going military airbase. This military island

coolant in a pressurized water reactor. It

such scenarios. One, after defueling, the reactor

took a look at this sector of energy generation

has the capability to operate thousands of

enters the bottom of the reactor core via a

section of the vessel is cut from its ship and

and not overlook it at the behest of developed

miles from its homeport, acting as an off

primary coolant tube and is heated as it flows

disposed into shallow graves as low level waste.

nations disguise of proliferation of nuclear

shore headquarters and wreaking havoc on

to a temperature of about 300 degrees Celsius.

On the other hand, the entire ship can be sealed

weapons.

any unlucky enemy further inland. Its size

This 'special' water remains liquid at such high

and the nuclear material allowed to stay afloat

alone (it is as long as twenty five buses) will

temperatures due to the high pressure it is

indefinitely.

The major disadvantage with this energy source is its disposalafter decommissioning

The Student Engineer

///// FEATURE

Where the wind blows by Agoi Anzweni & Kanyeki Gicheha nominal wind speeds of 25 m/s and 14m/s respectively. The GE 4.1-113 however has a huge frame with blade radius of 113 meters and is the company's only offshore model at the moment. As it occurred to me and to most of you, many regions in our magical Kenya have the required wind speeds required to install these machines. And that it's very possible to see numerous numbers wind stations sprout all over the country to try and supplement the current electrical power deficit witnessed in the various parts of the nation. The vision 2030 states that Kenya requires roughly 2GW of power in 2030 from wind generation alone. According to the KenGen Ngong Wind Power turbines at Ngong Hills

website, a feasibility study conducted on

ust go where the wind blows. This phrase

speeds of 4m/s which is generally a breeze.

had no other meaning to me before May,

The nominal speed of this turbine is 21m/s of

other than its colloquial or proverbial

wind and cut out at 28 m/s which in normal

meaning, in which case anyway it would

conditions are hardly achievable. The turbines

be an unwise advice. May is when I visited the

stand on average 60 meters high with a blade

magnificent wind power station in Ngong Hills in

a blade radius of 52m, which provides optimum

sub-urban Nairobi. That is when my perception

conditions for power production. With each

of the phrase changed, though in terms of

tower producing 850kW of power reportedly

renewable energy sources.

a full capacity being developed is capable of generating 30.6 MW of power assuming the

Founded in 1993 with two turbines as a donation

whole farm uses the same turbines.

from the Belgium government, ngong hills was re-commissioned in August 2009 with new 6

An interest General Electric to develop or set

Vestas V52-850kW Wind Turbines installed.

up a wind farm in Kinangop in the coming years

These until now produce a staggering combined

led me to try and find out what GE wind energy

5.1 MW of electrical power on an acreage of land

divisions' wind turbines had in store for us. What

not more than 10 acres. Masinga in its own

I found out was quite impressive. The GE 1.5-77

right as the biggest dam in Kenya, produces 40

turbine is capable of producing 1.5MW of power

MW of power on peak season, this of course is

at lower cut in wind speeds of 3.5m/s, nominal

highly subject to season and climate changes.

wind speeds of 11.5 m/s and cut out speeds of

Currently, and at the time KenGen and vestas

20m/s and smaller hub height of 80 meters.

were carrying out an upgrade on the wind farm

The GE 2.5-100 is well capable of producing 2.5

of about 36 more turbines on the northern side

MW of power at the same cut-in speeds; it has

of the hills. This would in turn increase installed

higher nominal and cut out speeds of 12.5 m/s

capacity of wind energy at the station to an

and 25m/s respectively. The most spectacular

impressive 25.1MW all throughout the year.

of them all, the GE 4.1-113 turbine produces an impressive 4.1MW of power, only 1MW shy of

The Vestas v52-850kW turbines used at the

the total capacity of the Ngong power station!

current farm in Ngong, produce each on average

All this at lower cut in speeds of 3.5m/s of

850kW of power operating at cut-in wind

wind speeds, and of course higher cut out and

The Student Engineer

Ngong Hill states that the site is well capable of generating up to 14.9GWh of energy per annum on average from a 5.1MW farm. If all this energy could be harvested in Ngong alone, the energy target of our vision 2030 would be well in reach, without breaking a lot of sweat! With eminent wind projects to be developed in Turkana and Marsabit by KenGen , and so

Social Commentary

far in Kinangop and Kipeto by GE , we would have the wind energy increase its current share of contribution to the national grid. Further development of this sector would even see it easily surpassing the current big two contributors to the grid HEP and Thermal, which currently stand at 761MW and 527.5 MW respectively. Kipeto alone would see 47 GE 1.6100 and 16 GE 1.6-82.5 wind turbines installed; leading to an installed capacity of 102.06 MW power. Whereas Kinangop upon its completion will generate 381.6MW of electrical power, as

Alcoholism and Drug abuse in varsities It all counts! Kenyan Universities The inanimate player ESA

the figures suggest, this four stations would be well above the current number one energy provider in Kenya, the HEP. Numbers don't lie, as we grow towards our precious vision 2030, let's just trust the wind like the sailors and go where it blows. Then, our vision 2030 energy goals are well over in reach!

The Student Engineer

///// MENTORSHIP

MENTORSHIP \\\\\

Alcoholism and drug abuse in varsities

by John Gachinu

It all counts!

by Ken Kimani

oud Jamaican dance-hall and riddim

(IEBC) way? Even our very own government is

music blasts from a sub-woofer

digitalized. In Theory of Structures, he can't see

system. Bottles of alcohol are popped

why we have to learn four strenuous methods

in the semi-dark room. There is a lot

of calculating deflections while one is sufficient.

of excitement, telling from the hearty laughter

Do you suppose he's right? Are some of our

and talk in the room. A group of about a dozen

units insignificant? I beg to differ.

youth are lost in the frenzy of their dance which involves the ladies gyrating their hips in

It is a fact, society has changing needs. The world

a rhythmic synchronization with the tunes, while

is rapidly changing as factors like technology

being held closely in a sensual manner by their

take over our lives. But one maxim forever

male partners. This is a picture of most rooms

holds, 'The more things change, the more they

in the university halls of residence on a Friday

stay the same.' For example, if I may digress,

night. The partying that has come to be known

people are spending beyond their means to get

as 'raving' around students' quarters goes

the flashiest phones and spend countless hours

on till dawn, and at times, through the whole

engaging in faceless conversations whereas in

weekend. The week has been long and stressful.

the long run, nothing will take away the primal

The stress has to be let out before the start of

face to face communication between two or

the next week.

more people; minus the phones. No matter how successful or powerful a woman gets,

A few months ago, Christian Organizations in the university had campaigns against drug abuse and sexual immorality. This was informed by the fears of increase in cases of violent fights and new HIV infections and even deaths that were linked directly to alcoholism and reckless sexual behavior that results from the intoxication. The campaign wasn't very popular among the students and just a few number of students visited the booths that were set up for counselling and possible rehabilitation of students who grapple with addiction to alcohol and other drugs use. Well, it is said that experience is the best teacher but in such a case it is obvious that experience would be the most painful way to learn, unless of course you are learning from the experience

of others. I'm going to share a story that I came

was feeling powerful behind the steering wheel.

across in a book. Hopefully we get to learn from

I was enjoying my liberty and I was going to

the writer's 'experience'.

have fun...The last thing I remember is that I was trying to overtake an old lady who was driving

I Can't Be Dead!!!

very slowly. I then felt a violent crash that made

'The day of my death was a day like any other...

me fall unconscious...

It was a Friday. I recall that I asked a friend to lend me his car. The classes ended at 16 00 hrs...

Then I heard the echo of my own moan. At a

I was going to be free the whole weekend. Being

moment's notice, I 'woke up' from that terrible

just 3 weeks into the semester, I was still loaded

lethargy. A policeman was by my side. There

with money thanks to HELB loan that was just

was a doctor on the other side.My body was

about a week-old in my account. I had to go

covered in blood. But I couldn't feel anything.

'raving'.

"Don't place that sheet on my face. I can't be dead! I'm just 20!! I'm picking my girlfriend for

aren't any different from the people who lived in

past centuries. Maybe life has become simpler.

o you're in this afternoon lecture.

We've all been there haven't we? There are

Maybe I&M bank wasn't there for Pharaoh to

It's been one hour since the lecturer

those units we take in certain semesters that to

stash his money. But humans: nose, eyes, ears,

walked in- this particular one is

us seem to make no sense. We can't wait for the

legs, emotions, habits, the nature and the world

invariably very punctual. No matter

semester to end so we can light our home jikos

is just as it was in Jesus' times.

how hard you try to concentrate, you can barely

with the lecture notes! Show me a student who

make out what the lecturer is 'rambling about.'

enjoys and appreciates each and every unit in

Our curriculum was developed with the end as

The sun is out, scorching, you've had a heavy

the engineering curriculum and I'll show you the

the beginning which is: what you'll become in

lunch and you're vigorously fighting off sleep.

'I' in 'liar.' Like for instance, the common units

society with all the knowledge you've accrued

You know that you drool generously so taking

we take in our first years of study. Up until this

over the years. Engineering is an arcane, yet

a nap in class is out of the question. Friends

point, I've never figured out why I had to take

very vital field in yesterday's, today's and

have picked on you enough for that. Looking

Philosophy. On meeting one of my Philosophy

tomorrow's world. Engineers are probably the

a party tonight. I'm going to be an Engineer!! I

I noticed, to my surprise, that my friend had left

need to grow up and enjoy life. I can't be dead!!!"

around, you see everyone is either busy texting

lecturers in first year, I was convinced that

most awesome people ever. The Coliseum,

away or gabbing with friends; technically doing

there was only one way I could attain an A- if I

one of the most iconic marvels of Roman

The funeral was a strange experience. I saw my

everything but following the lecture. Of course

proved that my lecturer did not exist. And since

engineering was built in 70AD and has survived

with the exception of the 'focused students'

I couldn't, he didn't disappoint me. He simply

to date withstanding all the earthquakes and

who take the front row in the lecture hall. Time

seemed that stingy with good grades.

other nature's demons and maintaining its

a bottle of liquor on the rear seat. I opened it, drunk quite a bit and drove off at full speed. I

by one. They looked at me sadly. The girls would

distinguished status as the largest amphitheatre

touch my hand and start crying.

seems to stay still! You feel that it's been a waste of your time coming to this lecture. But

There's a friend I know who's lost interest in

in the world. What else has lived that long? A

"Please don't bury me, as I'm not dead!! My

you remember that it were your friends who

classes. He laments that the current curriculum

doctor can't extend a life to more that averagely

dragged you here. So you let your mind drift

is old fashioned and ought to be revised by

120 years. I could list a million others case

away to petty things till after what seems like

the senate. The look on his face when he's

studies. And do you know what the geniuses

an eternity, the lecturer declares that he'll

carrying a T-square to class is as if he just got

who developed the syllabuses had in mind?

pick from where (s)he's left next time. Phew!

sold to slavery and his first assignment is to

'We want to develop an engineer with highly

However, your joy is short-lived since you know

carry animal feeds with a yoke fastened on his

cognitive abilities' - Theory of Structures with

there is more agony in waiting in the subsequent

shoulders. After all there's AutoCAD right? So

all its complexities. Strength of materials and

lectures. Nevertheless, you savour the moment.

why spend sleepless nights doing it the manual

others.

whole life is ahead of me! I want to laugh, run and live. I want to sing and dance. Don't put me six feet under. Oh, God, I promise that if you give me another chance, I'll be more careful. I just need one more chance. Let me live! Please, God I'm just 20!! Sadly, there wasn't that other chance."

The Student Engineer

man. Think about it. Nothing really changes. We

I ran to the car park. Before starting the engine,

relatives and friends approach the coffin, one

she'll never be entirely satisfied in life without a

The Student Engineer

///// MENTORSHIP

MENTORSHIP \\\\\

'We want an engineer who will have financial

how to design using computers before you can

I've seen engineering drawings that utilize the

They have no permanent masters, they switch

skills to enjoy the sweat of his labour.'

draw by hand.

same formats in terms of border lines and title

allegiance according to the depth of pockets.

Economics.

blocks etc; not only in Kenya but also around

They are quick to use their body muscles in

I've leaned towards civil engineering because

the world. Moments of inertia are calculated

whatever scenario they are presented with.

"We want an engineer to understand health

that's what I do, but this spans across all

the same way even in Australia. And they're

Their brain muscles remain un-utilized.

risks both to himself and to the society. And at

disciplines particularly in engineering. Each

completely real-world in the field. Appreciate

Looking backwards, you would wonder what

least have some knowledge outside his scientific

and everything we study gears us to becoming

all what you're learning today. And you'll see

changed, a very bright, visionary student

abilities." Public health.HIV/AIDS.Philosophy.

fully fledged professionals in society; capable

how easily you'll blend in the engineering

reduced to sycophancy and boot-licking of

Drawing: Can you learn how to key in 1+1 into the

of building the Coliseums of our generation. It

world, solving problems and creating unique,

godfathers, someone with no independence,

calculator before you can calculate it yourself?

may not be interesting. It may take up tons of

magnificent structures. It all counts.

very poor-not able to even think for themselves!

What happens when the calculator is taken

our time. But it all counts. Those who've been

Points to one thing, there is something terribly

away? Exactly. In the same vein, you can't learn

in industrial attachments can attest to this.

wrong with our universities. We are so busy

The inanimate player by John Gachinu

being proud of being in the university that we do not pause to think if the university is really serving us right.

Kenyan Universities Where did we go wrong?

I do not have to mention that most top

by Kevin Odongo

outs, several successful business are by college drop-outs. It may be because college wastes great brains! These people may have just escaped from the 'mass-wastage.' I'm in

The motorists using roads around the university

no way suggesting that university education is

bear the students frustrations. Rocks are hurled

not helpful, but I'm saying that there may be

at the cars. A motorist is never allowed to go

something wrong with our universities.

peacefully until they appease the hungry, angry students. One thousand Kenyan shillings

Take an example of University of Nairobi.

or about does the trick. Yes! One thousand

Although, a leading university in the region,

shillings! The students are happy. They've got

it takes in very bright students, the students

free cash. And Oh, God! It's so much!

who top in the country. Students who make headlines when high school test results are

University of Nairobi American wing

Yes! That's how myopic the student becomes.

released. Yet that becomes the end of the

They do not realize the millions of opportunities

news making, which shouldn't be the case.

around them. They do not realize they could

The great brains should become better at the

make millions just by utilizing that dark

university and should make bigger headlines in

moment-in the right way. They just see the

the world. There are students who still manage

quickest way- robbing their potential employers

to make headlines worldwide but if you asked

since they have lost the brains to help them be

them,it is unlikely they will mention being in a

entrepreneurs and employers themselves.

particular Kenyan university as a factor. Kenyan universities do very little to engage students

o it is the second decade of the 21st

improve service delivery across different fields,

century, a Kenyan privileged enough

increase productivity and generally improve

to go to University still has lots of

lives, but alas! The visionary has lost all hopes of

bragging rights. They have succeeded,

ever making something big. They have reduced

nay, survived through high school. They may

their dreams to reality. They have learnt how

still be the first people to make it to university

to play their cards. Know someone who knows

from their villages. They look very innovative

someone-that's what they have learnt. They

and visionary.

have learnt the government does not listen to sound reasoning and ideas-neither does their

Two or three years down the line, the visionary

university!

student has undergone radical changes. Having

So the student starts being very 'creative!' Very

been in the university for that time, they are

opportunistic. A blackout in the evening when

expected to have learnt a lot to help create jobs,

the student is busy making ugali is fully utilized.

The Student Engineer

Maracana stadium in Brazil

innovations worldwide were by College drop-

The student remains a campus survivor,

outside the classroom. They concentrate most in

drunk seven days a week, playing computer

the classwork, some of which aren't presented

games, watching movies and smoking unholy

in a way that would help the student come up

substances in their free time. Always looking for

with something. The lecturers never challenge

a dark opportunity to exploit. There is no study

the students to try out something new, they are

in their lists of to-do. They believe the number

always told to follow set standards!

one danger to human life is study-it kills the brain! Resulting in a coma!

The government does nothing meaningful in the universities to promote innovation and

Elections and campaign periods provide another

entrepreneurship. It always wants you to take

leeway for these hoodlums. They 'benefit' a lot

the painful steps through its offices to be

during these periods. All the politicians require

listened to. Now with all these odds against

their services. They are employed to punish

the students, we still wonder why Kenyan

political opponents and guard their masters.

universities are innovation deserts!?

he World Cup is here with us! For a whole

The stadium face lift was also done to

month, all eyes will be fixed on Brazil as

LEED specifications.To be certified by LEED

the football nation erupts into sporting

(Leadership in Energy and Environmental

frenzy. Tickets have been booked, jerseys have

Design), Maracana's architects and engineers

been tagged and boots have been polished.

had to adhere to certain standards. The sludge

Thirty two teams, the finest the world can

removed from the area was not simply dumped

produce will be battling it out for the coveted

by the side. It was analyzed by soil engineers

trophy, the golden world cup.

who discovered it had bentonite with high iron content making it suitable for ceramic mixtures.

The stadiums too have not been left behind.

It was then processed into bricks and used in

From Estadio do Maracana to Castelao,

Masonry buildings.

refurbishment and good engineering practices have left them looking more like national

Steel, that was part of the original structure was

monuments rather than soccer fields. Maracana

crushed, moulded and recycled in the precasting

for instance looks like a shiny silver wedding

of new bleachers and access ramps. To ensure

ring from a bird's eye view, a ring probably to

rational water use, an elaborate network of

symbolize the eternal marriage between the

channels covering the pitch was actualized to

Brazilian people and the football bonanza. This

capture rain water and take advantage of the

doyen of modern architecture will host the

heavy rains common in the South American

opening and closing matches of the World's

country.

greatest sporting event. In the case of energy use, the stadium has been Maracana (or Estadio Journalista Mario as it

fitted with photovoltaic panels to generate

is officially known) can trace its roots to the

solar energy, taking advantage of the hot Rio

1950s when it was constructed to host the 1950

de Janeiro sun. Photovoltaic panels are made

World Cup. However, with the changing times

from layers of semi conducting material, usually

and advancement in technology, this historical

silicon. When light shines on it, it creates an

masterpiece had to be modernized. The original

electric field across the layers, even during

stadium's roof was removed and replaced

cloudy days.

with fibre glass tension membrane coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (hydrophobic

Hence, when you are shouting yourself hoarse

fluorocarbon meaning that water cannot wet it).

thanks to Messi's magic or simply watching in

Its two tier sitting bowl was demolished giving

astonishment at Germany's well-oiled midfield,

way to a one tier sitting configuration.

don't forget to cheer for the inanimate player, the round hulky silver ring.

The Student Engineer

///// INTERVIEW

INTERVIEW \\\\\

In his own perspective Engineer Julius Riungu by Lewis Sakwa and Kevin Odongo

Comparing The Engineering field now and when you were in school and the time you began yourcareer four decades ago, what elaborate differences can you point out? I would say that the incorporation and the strides in ICT have changed the field tremendously. During our times we had mainframes using vacuum tubes in the university. At that time they were the sophistication of the day. We would write our FOTRAN programs, punch them on cards and feed them into the computer. The whole process of correcting the errors would take us like 3 days. Then came the era of desktops which were a reserve of just a few in offices. As we look back now, we can appreciate the changes that have been effected with the improvements in the information technology. When you take a look at the Power Generation, you can confidently say that the process and even the machinery have changed. We used to have the steam turbines but right now we have improved diesel generators. Hydro generation has not changed much however although there has been lots of improvements in the efficiency of machines that are used and so on. During out time, harnessing of wind was out of option but as we speak, that has changed a lot. You can see thepopularity with which the solar technology has swung into the market. We can therefore say without doubt that improvements in technology have brought lots of change in the profession and its practice.

Would you say that there are any innovations from Kenya?

Eng. Julius Riungu (circled) with fellow IEK members at a past IEK conference

n this issue we profiled Engineer Julius Riungu; Currently The CEO

actions as a profession you seek to improve the life of individuals. This

There are two levels from which we can look at a nation as regards

of Tsavo Power. Formerly Deputy MD for Kenya Power. Eng. Julius

is something I have done and I am so proud of.

technology. We can be a technology producer or technology consumer.

Riungu has a long standing proficiency in the field of engineering. He is a reflection of an all-round engineer and as he sits back you

can see one self -actualized person in terms of Engineering.

Do you mean to say that Engineering is better than accounts or in general, other careers?

Kenya stands in the latter. Reason is we do not have research going on. For actualization of innovation, we need to have research facilities equipped with modern equipment that in the end will spur technological advancement. We may also say that what our Universities receive for

Having begun his career way back in 1970 as a 'bursar' with Kenya Power

Yes. I canconfidently say it is better. The reason is that, there is no

and Lighting after his Form six, he has experience stretching into more

monotony of work in Engineering. One has to consistently keep thinking

than four decades. However his easy going nature might lie that he is

of ways to solve the problems at hand and times change, new solutions

Nevertheless, we can say that innovative research has not been

not as he seems. We took an incisive look at his long career, probing

must be found for the new problems that arise. There is motivation

harnessed. What we have witnessed is majorly academic research. This

and inquiring of what he felt about the state of engineering in Kenya,

therefore, which is seen by the impact one creates. One can therefore

has not been able to put us in a situation where we can develop. We

the place of the Kenyan engineer in the economy and more pertinently,

think of engineering as a world of innovation where things have to keep

need actual partnerships between the Industrial sector players and the

the energy situation and its future. Here is how the interview went on:

changing from the way they were always done.

Universities offering engineering in this country to be able to come up

You realize too that in Engineering, it's easier to question and improve

with solution; innovative solutions to the problems that are particular

unlike in other professional cadres.

to this country.

What led you to pursuing the Electrical Engineering and not the other disciplines of engineering?

If the Universities could come up with memoranda for the industries,

How would you describe yourself? Who is Engineer Riungu? What motivated you to be an engineer? I am an Engineer by profession something that I am proud of and has been fulfilling to me. Reflecting on this again, I would say I wanted to

research is very minimal and this can curtail the process.

several companies could fund the building and equipping of laboratories of these institutions. In return industrial solutions could be carried out by

be an accountant but at form four I changed my mind and as I went to

When I decided to pursue engineering, I was not sure of which one but

the Universities and in so doing we would come up with new products.

the A levels, with the advice of my teacher I ended up taking chemistry

I liked electricity and to add on it I was a handy person. I was thrilled

When you regard a country like Germany, it is a technology producer.

Physics and Mathematics. I am delighted to say that from that day my

by the idea of the invisible electrons resulting into electricity. In quest

Siemens has a university which they support in the research and is

fortunes were changed as I entered a defining phase of life.

to know much I delved into it and the only sure discipline was Electrical

therefore very easy to develop new products. As of now we are simply

The pleasant thing about engineering is that in your thought and

engineering.

a technology consuming country.

The Student Engineer

fiber optic cables mounted at communication port

What would be your recommendation on this situation? This has got to change. And as I said, we are aware the government is putting in 2% of the GDP into research. Partnership between universities and the industry is a mandatory undertaking. Universities may offer lots of solution to recurrent problems faced in the industry as they have all the time. But the University must take the initiative. Nigeria is already doing this. Who are we not to?

What would you therefore say is the problem? What has made these partnerships difficult? It boils down to a silo mentality. When the University and other academic institutions think that they are totally independent of the industry and they centrally place teaching above the rest then we have a problem. The teaching institutions alone cannot do any worthwhile job without modern equipment which unfortunately they cannot procure. The African Development Bank is trying this through the government but that alone cannot be enough. The heads of these institutions hence need a memorandum with the industrial players, based on a mutual agreement and with benefit for both sides. The Engineering department needs to show what they can do. If you take a look at Kenyatta National Hospital and the fact that it has incorporated the University in its program, we can successfully say there are a larger number of trained doctors, proficient even in delicate processes like kidney transplant. Something we did not have earlier. The engineering field must also take after the same to see good engineers being produced.

Let's take a look at your experience in the profession? How has it been? I can say I started off as a hands-on engineer to rise to the Deputy

The Student Engineer

///// INTERVIEW

INTERVIEW \\\\\

Managing Director of Kenya Power and Lighting Company. This is a career

of a different level from the Young Engineers Chapter. Each of these

is bright for those coming into the profession. You shall be smiling all

stretching from 1973 to 2008 when I retired after those years of service.

groups require a different attention and have different interests. We

the way to the bank.

One thing my ascendancy has taught me is that one must gain experience

are forming the Military chapter from the observation that many more

and work in all sectors of the industry before he can look down and

military engineers are joining us as reflected in the last conference.

appreciate the functionality of the Company he is working for. I can attest that I practically worked in all departments of KPLC before I was

Do you have a student chapter?

promoted to being the Deputy MD. I have to also advise that experience is core if you want to work well. Otherwise one might not be able to

We have not seen much of student involvement but I would say the most

handle the intricacies of management.

we have witnessed is Engineering Students Association of University of

clinching what others say are all contracts; what is your take? I believe that the contracted companies meet the threshold of

We also have to consider projects that are going on under the LAPSSET

requirements for the particular contracts. They must also prove that they

project There is a pipeline all the way to Lamu from South Sudan carrying

are up to the task. However, we must know that the Chinese companies

crude oil which means we shall require constant heating at intervals.

especially the ones in construction are supported by their government

This will in turn require massive power input and hence the investment

and the subsidy helps them to be able to complete the projects in time

is worth it.

and do an efficient job. They bid lower than our local companies even when the 15% allowance is given to the local contractors. In that case

Nairobi. It's the largely present body of students we see. We support

There is also a project going on in the Tana Delta which seeks to irrigate

One must understand and be conversant with all sectors of the industry,

them and have always done so. However there have been recent

one million acres of land. Through this initiative we can develop food

be it legal requirements to customer service. You must be able to handle

development of Associations of Engineering Students having the desire

processing industries that would consume the power and in the end

The other thing is, that they would complete the project on time and

it well. And it is by working through all these departments that you

to come together as one and have representatives. This would be good

create more employment both in the production and in the processing.

wait for the payment later. This is because of the subsidy. This, our locals

realize its importance.

for in that case we can include at least their member in the executive committee of IEK to be representing them.

cannot keep up with and the project would stall. It is therefore true to

Do we produce enough energy as of now?

Was KPLC your first place of work? Yes it was. And again it was the only one till when I retired at the age of 55 years. I joined it straight from form six and left for three years to pursue my degree at London University. I came back in 1973 and worked

one is but obliged to contract them.

say that there is not much financial muscle from our local contractors. Again when you compare the quality of work done by the Chinese and

Now to a different matter altogether, you are a senior stakeholder in the energy sector by the virtueof your position, what would you say of the Energy situation in the country? Give a perspective into thefuture.

there till 2008. After that I was a consultant with the Ministry of Energy

Demand of energy is propelled by industrialization. Even the GDP related

the one by our local contractors, there is a great contrast. Even the

to the energy levels in a country and so is economic growth. In that light I

Tanzanian contractors do a better job than our very own. So they would

wouldn't say yes. All I think is that we need to industrialize more in order

up their game or watch as the government outsources for other efficient

to spur the growth of the energy sector. You cannot produce what you

and ethically apt companies.

cannot sell. We need to encourage industries at the point of production.

handling a world Bank Financial Project. After that I later joined Tsavo

I chair the Energy Sector Board for The Kenya Private Sector alliance

We would in the end produce on large scale and instead of exporting raw

But the government policy is tilting towards them again. All projects of

Power, where I now work today.

and I can tell you that going forward the energy sector is promising.

materials we could do it in form of finished products.

one billion and below are being awarded to local contractors and they

The government is planning to put up a total of 5 Giga-watts in the next

Do you think it was a good idea to stay in one company as you did?

are not restricted from bidding against other foreign companies.

three years. This I would say is a good Vision which if implemented shall

The problem of our energy system is probably in the transmission and

steer this country to a different economic level. There is investment in

distribution network. Our transmission and Distribution Network is

what is your take about the training offered to the Kenyan Student Engineer and whether this couldpropel us to achieving the vision 2030?

the Geothermal Power; there is a 600MW gas power station. We also

generally weak and unstable and not until that is efficiently handled

I wouldn't advise so, but I know that what is important is job satisfaction

have 900MW coal plant in Lamu and another one in Kitui. There is the

we might not be receiving power as desired. They need to carry out

and if you are getting that then you have no reason whatsoever that

Turkana Oil Plant coming up soon. So in my view, the best times for this

reinforcement and maintenance. Privatization wouldn't change much as

would make you quit. It would be good to mention that I never worked

country in terms of Energy are approaching in the near future. As for

the same KETRACO lines are being used for transmission and generation

The response we have from the industry is a sad one. We do not produce

in one station or department for more than two years and therefore my

the employment in the energy sector it is tremendous. There is plenty of

is still under the same body. Again it doesn't always work. Take a look at

quality for the industry. Yet our curriculum is good. As I said before, we

work was not monotonous. So I enjoyed it.

market for Petroleum Engineers and Chemical Engineers too. The future

what happened to Kenya Refineries.

have fewer resources. We have fewer lecturers who switch their time between different universities. We no longer have tutorial fellows as it

You are the immediate former chairperson of The Institution of Engineers of Kenya, what is IEK andwhat would you say you do?

Do you think that there are plenty of opportunities for young people in the energy sector?

proper infrastructural support. And if there is infrastructure then it is outdated and irrelevant for the industry as of today. These loopholes

Yes. There are plenty of opportunities in terms of employment. There IEK is a professional body that caters for the welfare of its members. It

are many upcoming projects that offer lucrative job opportunities for

also is also tasked as an advisory body to the government on matters that

young people.

concern Engineering field. We liaise with Universities as well. While EBK is a regulatory body, we as the IEK ensure that our members, upcoming

used to be. We have too many universities offering engineering without

must be filled if we so desire to move forward. The industries have a feeling that the student sometimes do not know what to do. There is a need to build a compulsory curriculum that

what of on the investment part? Do you think it is easy?

in the Colleges are well trained.

incorporates a time not less than 6 months of an internship to industry so as to keep the student up to date with the industry. If we do not train

As for investment, I would doubt that. A power plant installation costs

professionals and still hope to achieve vision 2030 then we shall have

We speak for our members and we have as said advised the government

about $130 million while the license fee on an annual basis is around

no option but to outsource.

and we are still engaging them in projects undertaken like the Konza City,

$200000/=. Where would a young graduate from the university get that?

the Standard Gauge Railway and others that concern the development

Unless you have come into property... and it should be lots of it. All I

of this country.

would say is that the jobs in the sector are really promising and all you

We are so grateful for your time Sir, now to conclude, what is your parting shot to the Engineering Students??

have to do is work hard and get those. Otherwise, not even one investor

Are there chapters of IEK?

can set up a power plant. They need to come together...and they as

You are lucky to have chosen engineering. All you have to do is Train

always are multinational corporations.

and Excel. Put your best effort to give you a good employment. There

Yes. During my tenure we introduced the women's chapter to facilitate

is a lot of potential but you must come out as the best. Engineering is

their own discussions on affairs affecting them that they cannot raise

There have been concerns about the continued influx of foreign

a rewarding as well as a satisfying career. I have to say I have enjoyed

whenever we are together. The forum is functional at the moment. We

companies in the Kenyan economyand it is causing ripples even in

all that I have done. It is challenging however and you must know that

also have the Association of Consulting Engineers who have problems

the students. This is especially related to the Chinese companies

that is what spices life.

The Student Engineer

///// ESA

ESA \\\\\

AAK career day

General Electric career fair by Cynthia Mukabana

by Evans Kimutai Chelal

he GE career Fair this year took

the best and brightest individuals to help create

One thing however was resonant- GE can afford

p l a c e o n 2 1 s t J u n e 2 0 14. A n

a better future for the continent. It does give

you. It can empower You. All you need is the

important meeting officiated by ESA

you a feel of what Africa is made of, its potential,

Big Mind.

Chairperson, Cynthia Mukabana . In

where it came from and where it is heading to

attendance were students, many of course due

- making this a great career destination. To put

The emphasis at GE is based on ingenuity

to the profile of the company which graced the

it simply, it is promoting Africa for Africans.

and intelligence fused with imagination.

occasion. The meeting was officially opened at

So what does it take? What is the The gem GE

An individual is the content and not the

2:45pm.

seeks?

encapsulation. Your worth is rated as per what

•• Gracing the occasion were the General Electric staff. With their imaginative slogan "Imagination at Work," seized the moment.

Do your homework: Know what the

you are not on merits of career choice. There it

company is all about so as to have an

is... everybody has a chance.

idea what you'll be experiencing. ••

Network with people: Get to know and

At GE environmental issues are handled by

make friendship with those in GE.

trainings to ensure they are compliant with

Participate in university

the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)

Electrical Engineering Dr. Absalom Heywood

competitions- not just for GE but all

regulations as they partner with Shell in the oil

Ouma.

other companies. It put you to the

and gas portfolio.

The Meet up was further spiced by the ESA Patron Prof. Odira and the Chairman Dept. of

••

limelight General Electric, herein referred to as GE, set

engineering career while still in school.

School of Engineering stepped

Alex Kibet, who is now part of the GE staff

to do whatever life throws at us. A fundamental

three years they undertook a curriculum known

participated in the GE universities competition.

aspect otherwise known as Flexibility was the

as flag planting. This is basically studying the

He had a project through which electrolysis of

Dean's advice. Development of skills suitable to

environment to know what to invest and where

chicken dropping was to produce electricity.

the market was also an emphasis that echoed

to invest so as to have a maximal impingement.

With all ridicule of having to electrolyze chicken

throughout the speeches.

Sandra Wajero facilitated a session known

an opportunity at GE with immediate effect.

Conclusively, for those who missed, that was a

the world of Structural Engineering, and the

as Destination Africa. Destination Africa

His narration of the life thereafter is left to our

Day worth it and a company that you have to

importance of taking heed of all that we learn

is a platform that creates opportunities to

admiration and imagination as well.

follow up. For with their imagination at Work

thousands of Africans as they bring together

away f ro m t h e i r b u s y c l a s s

The presentations struck a chord with the

in class because it is the foundation of the real

schedules and projects on 26th

students and one had this to say "the talk was

thing. This went down well with Nafula Wekesa,

March 2014, to take part in the AAK-Engineers

captivating especially on how to network and

a final year student in Civil engineering, as

Chapter Career day hosted by ESA. Eng. Grace

eliminate the need to 'tarmac' after graduating.

she had this to say "I feel encouraged and

Kagondu (Chair-Engineers Chapter) Eng. Goro,

Engineer Nderitu has made me look at the

determined knowing that the industry needs

Eng Ben Nyawade, Eng. Anthony Wahome, Eng.

Industry in a different perspective."

engineers, so am not here in vain. To see female

Nderitu and Eng. Matalanga were the featured speakers, inspiring students to better their

base in Kenya 5 years ago and within the first

dropping, Alex carried the day. He was offered

A section of participants at the AAK career day

ver a hundred students from the

There is need to have an open mind and be ready

comes Prosperity For Posterity.

Engineers like eng. Grace, I was inspired to Eng. Nyawade journeyed the students through

complete my my race and join the workforce, It has been done before so nothing is impossible." It was truly a day to remember with KEVIAN Ltd facilitating the much awaited cooling break after the talk. The Students networked with professionals while sipping down a bottle of Afya and Mt. Kenyan water after the talk as they seeked mentors and Internships opportunities. We wish to thank KEVIAN Ltd for facilitating the Cooling break.

A group photo of the participants

The Student Engineer

IEK \\\\\

Institution of Engineers of Kenya Student fair dignitaries who saw it during its presentation Students from various universities within

including the head of state honorable Uhuru

the country presented their papers to IEK on

Kenyatta and cabinet secretaries Joseph

28th April 2014, among them was Mr. George

Kaimenyi,Ann Waiguru,Najib Balala during the

Ouma, a fourth year student from University

launch of Uwezo Fund for Youths and Women

of Nairobi in the Department of Electrical and

that was held on 8th September 2013.

Information Engineering. Mr. George Ouma who was number one was given a tablet. The top

The same project was presented during the

3 George Ouma, Sally Musonye(UoN), Robert

youth Enterprise trade fair at KICC on 25th to

Giteya (Moi University) were given opportunity

27th November 2013 organised by the chairman

to present during the 21st annual International

Evans Gor Semelango and also on 15th annual

Engineers' conference which was held at

IEEE Kenya Engineering competition held on

Leisure Lodge Resort, Kwale County that started

7th to 8th November at Oshwal Centre where

on May 7 th - 9th 2014.George was declared

IEEE President Roberto approved it. George

the winner of the first ever IEK Engineering

has also managed to meet Kenya's youngest

students competition as a result of his Auto-

billionaire Mr. Heshan Da Silva of Desilva group

Run Cellphone innovation which was the most

at Westlands and demonstrate his auto-run

outstanding innovation designed by a student.

cellphone to him. currently George is working

The Auto-Run Cellphone is an innovation that

on several projects based on innovation to be

enables your cellphone to charge itself as you

released next year when finalizing his studies

make phone calls, texting and browsing. The

in university.

device uses radiation emitted by the phone,

which it converts into electrical energy and

George also has registered a company called

regulated based on the phone's specifications.

Amuo technologies which will deal with

The more you use your phone, the more energy

production of the innovative projects and

your battery gets hence it becomes an auto-run

own them including handling the Intellectual

nstitutions of Engineers of Kenya

phone. The presentation was graded based on

properties of the innovations. George has

(IEK) decided to engage students in

technical content,

been invited in several institutions to talk

their activities by organizing for IEK

with people or students and encourage them

Engineering Students Competition . This

overall presentation and oral and visual

top institutions include Technical university,

was intended to encourage members

performance. Being that George's presentation

Kenyatta university, Chandaria innovation and

of Engineering Student Associations to

was the best, he was chosen to attend the

business Centre, JKUAT, National commission for

prepare and present meaningful papers and

World Engineers Summit to be held in Abuja

science innovation and technology NCST,mobile

presentations on subjects related to the various

Nigeria to represent the country in Student

planet sponsored by Google,Huawei Kenya,

engineering disciplines. Design Competition

engineering International presentations

Kenya Nuclear Board by engineer Collins Juma

provides a platform for Student Members to

from 2-7 November fully sponsored by IEK.

and recently he was in Nakuru visiting various

present their solutions to a range of design

He is going to be handed the sponsorship

children homes including his sponsors Street

problems - from everyday household tasks to

at IEK office at Transcom house by the new

children assistance network of Nakuru SCANN

groundbreaking space exploration. Each of the

IEK chairman Engineer Reuben Kosgei.

chaired by Shamsher Gilanis which is sponsored

student is required to design, construct and

The Student Engineer

by cedar foundations and rotary club. Also he

operate a prototype meeting the requirements

The same project has also been demonstrated

went to Eldoret he managed to visit testimony

of eradicating human determined problem

to H.E the President Uhuru Kenyatta during

faith homes started and managed by John

statement. This was organised by the IEK Young

the launch of Uwezo Fund. George has also

Green and SOS children's home in Eldoret.

engineers chapter chaired by Engineer Grace

designed a project based Home Security System

Onyango.

that has been presented and approved by many

The Student Engineer