By James Okoth
A wave of grief and disbelief swept through Kenya’s engineering fraternity on Thursday following the death of Engineer Juma Hannington Raburu, the proprietor of Gogni Rajope Construction Company Limited, who allegedly took his own life at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) offices in Kisumu.
In a strongly worded statement, the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) described Eng. Raburu’s death as “a tragic loss of a father, husband, mentor, professional colleague and a friend to many.” The association expressed deep concern over the growing emotional and financial distress faced by professionals in Kenya’s construction sector, distress that often goes unnoticed until it claims lives.
“It is regrettable that we lose a life that is promising and a resource to the nation through such an occurrence,” said Eng. Jackton Mwembe, Secretary General of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya. “No Kenyan should die because they owe their government money in form of taxes or otherwise. The best act is to have an amicable engagement and a favourable payment plan,” he added.
Eng. Mwembe pointed to pending bills owed by government institutions to contractors and consultants as a major cause of financial collapse and psychological strain among engineers. He noted that most institutions initiate projects without budgeted funds, leaving professionals to rely on loans, bridge financing and personal savings, only to face delayed or denied payment once work is completed.
“The procurement of services should not be initiated unless funds have been allocated,” Mwembe warned. “Public institutions must also work collaboratively so that if one arm fails to honour payment, a promissory note should be issued to cushion service providers from unnecessary embarrassment,” he said.
According to the Institution of Engineers of Kenya, the government’s accumulated pending bills have grown exponentially over successive administrations, with the built environment sector, encompassing engineers, architects and contractors, among the hardest hit. Many firms have since collapsed under debt, while others operate at the brink of insolvency.
Behind the statistics lies a quieter crisis, one of emotional torture, shame and unrelenting anxiety.
For engineers like Eng. Raburu, the combination of delayed payments, heavy taxation and political vilification can amount to a psychological siege.
Contractors often face public humiliation when labelled “defaulters” by revenue agencies, even as the same government delays their dues. The weight of unpaid salaries, family responsibilities and company debts pushes many professionals into isolation and despair.
Mental health experts warn that the construction industry, once viewed as a mark of economic strength, has become a breeding ground for depression and burnout.
“Engineers, by their training, are problem-solvers. When they are trapped in a system where honesty and effort don’t guarantee survival, they internalize the failure as personal,” noted a counselling psychologist familiar with contractor support groups in Kisumu. “That emotional spiral is deadly and it rarely makes the news.”
IEK’s statement urged the government to rethink how it balances taxation and economic recovery, emphasizing that while paying taxes is a patriotic duty, the same government must uphold fairness by settling its own debts promptly.
“The government must facilitate the prompt settlement of debts to service providers to enable them to carry out their constitutional duties,” Eng. Mwembe said.
“Our brother, father, friend and colleague needed a listening ear and understanding.”
Eng. Raburu’s company, Gogni Rajope Construction Limited, once symbolized hope for local engineering talent, a rare success story of a fully Kenyan-owned firm competing in a space dominated by multinational contractors. But years of political hostility, stalled contracts and financial strain took their toll.
As tributes pour in from fellow professionals, Raburu’s death has reignited painful questions about the state’s relationship with local contractors, the lack of mental-health support in professional sectors and the human cost of systemic failure.
For the Institution of Engineers of Kenya, this tragedy is more than an obituary. It is a call to conscience.
“We must build systems that protect the human beings behind our infrastructure. Roads, bridges and buildings mean nothing if the people who build them are breaking inside,” said Eng. Mwembe.
Investigations into the exact circumstances surrounding Eng. Raburu’s death are ongoing.
