Kilifi County Government has unveiled a capitation programme for Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) in a bid to attract more young people into technical education so as to equip them with employable skills.
The County Executive Committee Member for Education, Vocational Training and ICT, Felkin Kaingu, revealed that the county administration had partnered with Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) to establish a Sh20 million annual capitation fund to support vocational centres.
Under the arrangement, the county government will contribute Sh10 million while KCB will match the amount each financial year. The county is targeting enrolling at least 10,000 youth in vocational institutions annually.
Speaking at Muyeye Vocational Training Institute in Malindi during the launch of the Kenya Blue Economy Skills Training (KBEST) programme, Mr Kaingu emphasised the county’s commitment to making vocational training accessible and appealing to young people.
The CEC member noted that access to technical skills would help steer many young people away from crime by creating pathways to employment and self-reliance.
“Many youths engage in criminal activities because they lack technical skills that can make them productive members of society. Once the capitation programme is fully operational, more young people will be encouraged to join the centres and gain skills,” he said.
The KBEST programme, which introduces Food Production and Baking Technology courses, is funded by Colleges and Institutes from Canada.
Kaingu urged directors of the county’s more than 44 vocational centres to work closely with village elders to identify and mobilise youth for enrolment,
“Currently, we have only 7,500 students enrolled in VTCs, which is very low compared to the more than 300,000 youth in Kilifi County,” he said.
James Aldridge, Associate Vice President of Canada’s Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), said the partnership between Canadian colleges and Kenyan VTCs would open opportunities for international education exchange.
“We would love to have exchange programmes between students from Kenyan institutions and Canadian colleges every year because such exposure gives students global experience and prepares them to work anywhere in the world,” he said.
Mary Munasia of Colleges and Institutes Canada added that the partnership had created employment opportunities for skilled youth both locally and internationally.
She explained that research conducted through industry engagements revealed a huge demand for skilled labour across different sectors.
“The opportunities are many, but the challenge has been a lack of skilled manpower. That is why we came up with the Kenya Blue Economy Skills Training programme after the study,” she said.
She urged Kilifi’s youth to seize the opportunities offered by vocational training, particularly in the fast-growing Blue Economy sector.
Munasia noted that practical skills in hospitality, fisheries, and marine technology are increasingly in demand and that embracing such training would not only secure livelihoods but also contribute to the county’s economic growth.
The four‑year programme, funded by Global Affairs Canada, is expected to strengthen vocational institutions across Kilifi, enhance the employability of graduates, and support Kenya’s national agenda of harnessing the Blue Economy for sustainable development.
by Shani Rhai
