SAIW trains Kenyans

For many years the SAIW has been extending its services all over the continent of Africa. “It’s one of the most important things that we do,” says SAIW Caretaker Executive Director, Jim Guild. “One of our most important missions has been to work with our African partners to ensure that together we build an African welding industry that is dynamic and always up to speed with the latest in welding technology. It is also good for SAIW business.”

In its latest venture the SAIW has played a major role in training two Kenyan trainers to be able to run training courses in Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) and then helping those trainers to do the necessary in the training of 75 Kenyan welders.

The lead trainer was SAIW’s Willie Williams. “Our task was to train the 75 young Kenyan welders to achieve an internationally recognised diploma in SMAW. The overall training was for six months and I was there for two of those months supervising the newly-trained Kenyan trainers. Altogether it was a very successful operation,” says Willie.

The buoyant oil and gas industry in Kenya has created a significant demand for local welders and, unfortunately there has been a serious dearth of such people in the country. This has prompted the founding of the local welding school, the East African Institute of Welding (EAIW), which is overseeing the SMAW training in Kenya. The EAIW is in the process of being accredited by the SAIW.

In the meantime, the Kenyan welders will be certified by SAIW Certification to ensure the global acceptance of their diploma. “We are delighted to be part of this process and our next step will be to assist in training Kenyan welders in Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), which is also crucial for the oil and gas industry. We look forward to a long and successful association with the EAIW,” concluded Jim Guild.