Tinderet Sub County is steadily emerging as a centre of practical skills development, with vocational and technical training institutions playing a critical role in shaping a generation of self-reliant technicians who are transforming livelihoods and strengthening the local economy.
According to area education officials, the sub-county hosts six vocational and technical training institutions that serve both school leavers and out-of-school youth. The institutions offer market-driven courses in electrical installation, welding and fabrication, plumbing, building construction, motor vehicle mechanics, tailoring, hair and beauty therapy, ICT and agribusiness.
The training centres are strategically located near major market centres to enhance accessibility. Among the institutions serving the sub county are Tinderet Vocational Training Centre, Kapsimotwo Youth Polytechnic, Chemase Vocational Centre, Kobujoi Technical Skills Centre, Kipchumwa Vocational Centre and Kaplelach Skills Training Centre.
Lydia Chebet, the principal of Tindiret Vocational Training Centre, said enrolment across the institutions has increased significantly over the past three years as communities increasingly embrace vocational training as a viable pathway to economic empowerment.
“Technical and vocational training has become the most practical option for many families,” Chebet said. “We are training young people to use their hands and minds to earn a living. Many of our graduates do not wait for employment, instead they create it,” she added.
She noted that the competency-based approach used in training ensures learners graduate with hands-on experience, enabling them to transition smoothly into self-employment or apprenticeships within their communities.
At Kapsimotwo Youth Polytechnic, Samuel Rono, the Head Instructor, said demand for courses such as welding, electrical installation and plumbing reflects the real needs of the sub-county.
“These are skills that are needed every day,” Mr Rono said adding: “Homes are being built, shops are expanding, farms need machinery repaired. When our trainees graduate, they immediately find work.”
He added that partnerships with county-supported programmes have strengthened training outcomes by providing modern equipment, short industrial attachments and entrepreneurship training.
One of the most impactful initiatives supporting trainees in the subcounty has been the KCB Foundation’s 2jiajiri programme. According to Peter Koech, a local 2jiajiri trainer and business development coach, the programme has helped convert technical skills into sustainable enterprises.
“Vocational skills alone are not enough. We teach trainees how to manage customers, cost their services and grow their businesses. With the toolkits they receive, they start earning immediately,” Koech added.
Beneficiaries of technical training say the impact has been life-changing. Brian Kiprotich, an electrical technician operating within the sub county, said the training enabled him to move from casual labour to stable self-employment.
“I now do electrical installations in homes, schools and churches,” Kiprotich said. “I have employed two assistants, and sometimes I train trainees from the vocational centre,” he added.
Janet Chelimo, who runs a welding and fabrication workshop in a nearby trading centre, said technical training gave her economic independence and respect in the community.
“I fabricate gates, doors and farm tools,” she said. “I earn my own income and I have taken on an apprentice. This skill has changed my life.”
Community members say the presence of locally trained technicians has improved access to essential services and reduced household costs. Joseph Kurgat, a community elder, said residents no longer need to travel to major towns to seek technical services.
“Our technicians are here with us,” Kurgat said. “They charge affordable prices, respond quickly and understand local needs. That keeps money within the subcounty.”
Sub-county education officials say vocational and technical training has contributed to reduced youth unemployment, increased household incomes and the growth of small enterprises. Each trained technician supports suppliers, transporters and apprentices, creating a ripple effect across the local economy.
Officials further note that technical training has helped curb rural-to-urban migration, as young people increasingly choose to remain in Tinderet Sub County where they can build sustainable livelihoods.
As vocational and technical training continues to expand, stakeholders agree that the sub-county is laying a strong foundation for inclusive economic growth. By equipping youth with practical skills and entrepreneurial knowledge, the subcounty is nurturing a workforce that is skilled, confident and central to local development.
By Sammy Mwibanda
