The government has urged Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to ensure their programmes remain aligned with industry needs and emerging labour-market trends, warning that expanding access to education without improving employability will not deliver sustainable economic impact.
Speaking during the Nation Media 18th Higher Education Fair and Skills Expo 2026 in Nairobi, Principal Secretary for TVET, Dr Esther Thaara Muoria, said Kenya must prioritise skills-based, industry-driven training to prepare graduates for both domestic and international job markets.
Quoting President William Ruto, Dr Muoria said, “If education is the key, then TVET is the master key, because it converts knowledge into practical skills, productivity and economic opportunity.”
She noted that in the modern economy, the power of education depends not only on access but also on relevance to real-world work environments.
Dr Muoria described the Expo as more than an institutional showcase, calling it “a national conversation about relevance” aimed at aligning education systems with technological change, industry trends and the evolving future of work.
The PS highlighted significant gains made in strengthening Kenya’s TVET sector over the past few years, noting that enrolment has grown from approximately 350,000 trainees in 2022 to about 900,000 today.
She attributed the growth to reforms such as modularised training, flexible entry pathways and the Recognition of Prior Learning framework, which allows youth, artisans and working adults to enter formal certification pathways based on demonstrated competencies.
Additionally, Dr Muoria cited innovative outreach programmes designed to expand inclusion, including Ujuzi Manyattani, which targets pastoralist communities, and initiatives supporting the reintegration of reformed bandits into productive employment and enterprise.
“These initiatives are aimed at bringing more youth, artisans and working adults into formal skills certification pathways,” she said.
On training quality, the PS assured that the government has strengthened standards through the full rollout of Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET), which focuses on demonstrable skills rather than classroom time.
She added that CBET is supported by investments in modern, industry-relevant equipment and reformed assessment systems designed to ensure integrity, quality assurance and real workplace productivity.
“Access without relevance is incomplete. Equity without employability is unsustainable. Quality without strong alignment to industry demand is insufficient,” cautioned Dr Muoria.
She challenged TVET institutions to prepare graduates not only for current job markets but also for emerging sectors, citing global labour trends that show growing demand in digital technologies, advanced manufacturing, infrastructure development, healthcare and the green economy.
According to the PS, these global shifts present significant opportunities for Kenya, as many countries are facing shortages of skilled technicians, artisans and technologists.
“Our responsibility is to ensure TVET produces globally competitive skills so Kenyan youth are prepared not only for local industry but also for regional and international employment,” she said.
Dr Muoria highlighted partnerships that allow Kenyan agriculture trainees to participate in seasonal work programmes in the United Kingdom through organisations such as HOPS Labour Solutions, noting that more than 3,000 trainees have already benefited.
“Beyond employment opportunities, these programmes expose trainees to advanced farming technologies, modern production standards and global agricultural practices,” she said, adding that returning participants strengthen local productivity and agribusiness innovation.
She emphasised that labour mobility should be viewed as an opportunity for skills exchange and brain gain, rather than brain drain.
Reaffirming President Ruto’s vision that Kenya’s transition to a first-world economy depends on skills, creativity and innovation, Dr. Muoria said these qualities mature best within real production environments.
“Industry is where skills are validated, where creativity is tested against real problems and where innovation is converted into economic value,” she said.
“Meaningful engagement between institutions and industry is not optional; it is the mechanism through which education delivers productivity, employability and national prosperity,” she added.
The PS noted that TVET institutions are increasingly shifting from classroom-based instruction to production-anchored learning, with campuses establishing industry-like production units in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, hospitality, automotive, ICT and emerging green industries.
Through modularised CBET, she said trainees now learn within real production processes, working with modern equipment, meeting quality standards, adhering to timelines and responding to actual market demand.
“These production units ensure that skills are developed, tested and validated in commercially relevant settings, directly aligning training outcomes with industry expectations,” Dr Muoria explained.
She urged higher education and training institutions to allow industry trends to guide curriculum design, delivery and assessment, while calling on private-sector players to play a more active role through curriculum co-development, industrial attachments, mentorship and skills assessment.
“Education cannot keep pace without industry’s active involvement,” she said.
Addressing students and parents, Dr Muoria encouraged them to prioritise training pathways that build practical skills, adaptability and lifelong learning capacity, rather than focusing solely on academic credentials.
She also invited Nation Media Group to partner with the TVET sector in promoting skills excellence, innovation and opportunities within technical training, saying media visibility can help shift mindsets, attract industry participation and guide young people toward practical career pathways.
“Kenya’s future will not be secured by certificates alone. It will be secured by graduates who can solve problems, apply technology, work ethically and create value from day one,” she said.
Dr Muoria urged stakeholders to move “from access to impact, from training to relevance, and from education to productive capability” as Kenya strengthens its education and skills systems to support national development.
The Expo brought together leaders from higher education and TVET institutions, industry partners, policymakers and students to explore strategies for strengthening skills development and aligning education with labour-market and economic priorities.
By Naif Rashid
