Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions from across the North Rift region have converged in Elgeyo Marakwet County for the North Rift TVET Trade Fair and Innovation Exhibition, aimed at promoting technical skills, innovation and entrepreneurship among the youth.
The two-day exhibition, hosted by Kipsoen National Polytechnic, brought together students, trainers and education stakeholders from 28 institutions across the region to showcase innovations and practical projects in engineering, Information Communication Technology (ICT), agriculture, fashion design and entrepreneurship.
The event highlighted the growing role of TVET institutions in equipping young people with industry oriented competencies and supporting the country’s agenda on industrialisation, job creation and self-employment.
Elgeyo Marakwet Deputy Governor, Prof. Grace Cheserek, said technical training plays a critical role in driving the country’s socio-economic transformation through innovation and practical problem-solving.
“Technical training helps guide the transformation of our country. Trainees from technical institutions are the people who will solve societal challenges through innovation and the skills they acquire,” said Cheserek.
She urged parents to support learners pursuing vocational and technical education, noting that TVET graduates have opportunities for career progression and employment both locally and internationally.
“To the parents, vocational training is not for failures but for students who want to innovate. After completing technical training, learners still have pathways to progress in their careers,” she said.
Cheserek added that the county government was promoting labour mobility programmes such as Kazi Majuu, where graduates from technical institutions stand a better chance of benefiting due to their hands on skills and competencies.
She further encouraged students to register with the National Employment Authority to access employment opportunities and job advertisements available locally and abroad.
The Deputy Governor also assured parents that the government had reduced tuition fees in TVET institutions, making technical education more affordable and accessible to many learners.
Speaking during the exhibition, Kipsoen National Polytechnic Principal, Joseph Bittok, said the trade fair was aimed at sensitizing communities on the importance of technical education and skills development.
“The objective of the TVET trade fair is transforming tomorrow today through TVET skills. We are offering various courses, and we have 28 institutions from the North Rift region participating in this exhibition,” said Bittok.
He urged Students to join TVET institutions as they will get skills to advance their lives
The principal emphasised that technical training remains one of the most effective solutions to unemployment among the youth, noting that trainees acquire practical competencies that enable them to secure employment or establish their own businesses.
“The solution to unemployment in our country is for the youth to acquire practical skills such as plumbing, fashion design, hairdressing and other technical courses that can enable them to employ themselves,” he stated.
Bittok further challenged the perception that TVET institutions are meant for academic failures, saying technical education is open to all learners interested in acquiring employable skills
“It is not necessary for everyone to join a university. TVET institutions are for everyone willing to acquire skills and knowledge. These institutions are not for failures; they are centres for job creation and innovation,” he added.
Elgeyo Marakwet County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Education and Technical Training, Purity Koima, said the government was increasingly focusing on technical and vocational training as a key pillar for economic transformation and youth empowerment.
“Technical skills are very important because once acquired, one can either get employed or become self-employed. Technical institutions are not for failures but for those who want to pursue the technical pathway,” said Koima.
She noted that Elgeyo Marakwet County has 18 institutions under the TVET programme, adding that the county government continues to invest in technical training infrastructure and programmes to enhance access to skills development.
Bittok also explained that trainees are currently paying subsidised fees and can also benefit from Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loans as well as bursaries offered by both national and county governments.
The exhibition featured innovative student projects and demonstrations, showcasing the practical knowledge and technical competencies trainees acquire during their studies, while reinforcing the importance of TVET education in advancing Kenya’s industrial and economic development agenda.
By June Jebet
