Publisher to launch Kenya’s first engineering TV show

Intercontinental Publishers, publishers of ‘Kenya Engineer’ magazine, are set to unveil season II of Kenya’s first engineering TV show.

Dubbed ‘AWEsome’, the TV series will generate a lot of interest both in the corporate world and government sector with Kenya Maritime Authority KAM coming in as the Platinum sponsor and Bamburi Cement as the Gold Sponsor.

“AWEsome” showcases the engineering contributions and hallmarks that currently reflect Kenya’s heritage. The TV series captures the construction of Kenya’s outstanding buildings, defining agricultural projects, ICT, Housing, Education, Transport and Financial technologies among other developments.

Speaking in Nairobi when he confirmed plans to unveil the new docu-drama series, The Chief Executive Officer of Intercontinental Publishers Ltd, Booker Ngesa said that engineers in Kenya had made significant milestones since independence and it is imperative to showcase them, as Kenya comprises different generations that need to appreciate their history.

Engineers in Kenya, Booker, noted have been instrumental in the development projects cumulatively valued at more than Kshs 900 billion in various economic sectors.

The ten AWEsome episodes, Booker disclosed, will cover diverse topics such as: energy, water, industry, roads, communication, transport, agriculture, business & finance, housing and education.

All the episodes, he added have been carefully scripted to educate and entertain, while providing inspiration on the possibilities available to make better lives for all Kenyans.

“Kenya has celebrated engineering minds that have developed game changing solutions that are slowly but surely pushing us towards becoming a middle income economy. We have come of age to showcase our engineering developments as the world economies become more competitive and innovative. As an engineering fraternity, we are ecstatic to be part of Kenya’s and we will use the TV series to showcase the developments that the engineering sector has achieved thus far,” said Booker.

Kenya’s growth through the years has been largely supported by private sector investments with distinct engineering elements, with major projects springing up in the mining, hospitality and tourism, manufacturing, transport and ICT sectors.

“I am optimistic that with sound national development blueprints such as Vision 2030, we will undoubtedly achieve our growth plans especially with the current level of government allocated resources towards improving infrastructure in counties, cities and urban centres,” said Booker.

The 10 – episode TV series, produced in conjunction with the Institution of Engineers of Kenya and Intercontinental Publishers, explores engineering feats from over 200 locations across the country, in over 40 years of engineering. It is layered with film and photo archives to tell the story of our country’s rarely celebrated engineering achievements. The new docu-drama will serve as not only informative for the local population, but a channel through which the country can sell its capabilities globally.

“We are telling a powerful, entertaining, and uplifting story, and we wanted it to come from the engineers,” says the show’s producer, Samuel Eyinda. “For entertainment purposes, we have chosen to tell this story from the perspective of the results we can see and touch in order to bring out a believable and emotional narrative that resonates with Kenyans. And just like in any other world-class documentary, AWEsome is about more than just processes and accomplishments. It is a story worth telling.”

The TV series, AWEsome(Amazing World of Engineering) season II, will premiere at Sankara Hotel on January 16, 2014 with ten episodes about the impact of engineering in Kenya across everyday lives of Kenyans and how we can continue to use science and available innovations to solve our social problems.