The Kisumu National Polytechnic (TKNP) has emerged as the overall winner at the 8th Annual International Multidisciplinary Conference and the 6th National Skills Competition.
The event, hosted by the institution from 23 to 25 June, brought together technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions from across the region to showcase innovation, research and practical skills.
TKNP students received several awards for innovation and research paper presentations, with judges recognising projects demonstrating technical excellence, creativity and practical application.
Other institutions that won awards included Siaya National Polytechnic, Butula Polytechnic, Katito Polytechnic and Sinyolo Girls High School.
Sinyolo Girls High School won all the awards in the junior category as it was the only institution competing in that section.
TKNP also secured top honours in disciplines including plumbing, fashion and design, and motor vehicle panel beating.
The competition came days after the institution was recognised as the Best Holistic Institutional Excellence and Community-Integrated National Polytechnic of the Year at the 7th East Africa Superwoman Awards.
Speaking during the closing ceremony, the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Dr Esther Muoria, said the government was reforming technical training to better meet the needs of employers.
She said TVET institutions must align their programmes with industry requirements to ensure graduates possess skills that match labour market demands.
“We want graduates to leave our institutions with practical, hands-on experience that makes them ready for employment,” Dr Muoria said.
She said the government was introducing reforms aimed at narrowing the gap between classroom training and workplace requirements.
Among the planned changes are the adoption of a dual training model, similar to that used in Germany, where students divide their time between classroom learning and industry placements.
Dr Muoria said the reforms would also strengthen the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) system, expand digital infrastructure and integrate artificial intelligence into TVET curricula.
She said embracing emerging technologies was essential to preparing learners for the changing world of work.
The principal secretary also said the government had laid the foundation for expanding access to technical education by establishing TVET institutions across constituencies.
She added that stronger partnerships between training institutions and industry would be critical in producing graduates equipped with practical skills.
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