Graduates from technical and vocational training institutions have been urged to embrace innovation and take advantage of opportunities in Kenya’s growing construction sector instead of remaining unemployed.
The Principal Secretary for Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Dr Esther Muoria, said the government’s affordable housing programme had created employment opportunities for skilled graduates in areas such as plumbing, painting, fittings and other construction-related trades.
Seaking during the 12th graduation ceremony at Kisumu National Polytechnic, where 2,099 students received certificates and diplomas, Dr Muoria encouraged graduates to apply their skills in the job market.
“Go out there and take up opportunities in those areas,” she said.
Dr Muoria said President William Ruto’s development agenda had turned the country into a major construction site, creating demand for technical skills.
In a speech read on his behalf by Dr Muoria, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening technical and vocational education and training.
He said the government aimed to produce graduates who could think critically, solve problems and meet the demands of industry.
Mr Ogamba said the government was working to increase funding for TVET institutions to improve the quality and efficiency of training.
He called for greater public investment in the sector and urged employers and industry players to participate in developing occupational standards to ensure graduates acquire relevant skills.
The Cabinet Secretary also stressed the importance of workplace exposure, saying practical experience would better prepare graduates for the labour market.
He urged graduates to continue upgrading their skills and to look beyond the knowledge gained in class by seeking solutions to challenges facing society.
Mr Ogamba praised the adoption of Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) across the TVET sector, saying it would equip learners with practical, industry-driven skills.
He said the government would continue partnering with industry to provide students with hands-on training, strengthen research and innovation, and improve their employability.
The Cabinet Secretary also welcomed the establishment of a cotton hub project at Kisumu National Polytechnic, saying it would add value to the institution’s training programmes.
The Chief Principal of Kisumu National Polytechnic, Catherine Kelonye, said the institution had fully embraced CBET and was working closely with employers and other stakeholders to align training with labour market needs.
She said the polytechnic had also implemented Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), allowing individuals to have existing skills formally recognised.
Ms Kelonye said graduates from the institution were equipped with practical skills required by employers and were ready to compete in the job market.
She added that the institution had received recognition for its holistic approach to student development.
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