Vocational Training Centres in Kiambu are taking on a new role in local development by producing cabro stones for use in improving roads, walkways, and trading centres across the county.
At Muguga Vocational Training Centre in Muguga Ward, Kabete Sub-County, cabro installation is currently underway within the institution’s compound.
The initiative was introduced by the Kiambu County Government in March 2025 as part of efforts to revitalize Vocational Training Centres by equipping them with cabro-making machines and creating opportunities for trainees to apply their technical skills in practical projects.
The programme is also intended to promote local manufacture of paving blocks by students to upgrade rural markets, streets, and walkways while gaining practical construction skills.
Governor Kimani Wamatangi said the County has also installed cabro-making machines at Kamirithu, Ruiru, and Juja Farm VTCs, adding that installation was underway in at least one VTC in every sub-county.
He also noted the programme would also provide young people with opportunities to engage in meaningful economic activities while gaining skills and enhancing their employability.
At Muguga VTC, the locally produced cabro stones are being used within the institution before being utilized in nearby trading centres, creating a direct link between technical training and community infrastructure development.
Mary Muthoni, a resident of Kahuho in Kabete Sub-County, said the planned improvement of the shopping centers would make the area more accessible and provide a better environment for traders and customers.
She applauded the good job done by the county government to improve the rural markets and streets. “We are eagerly waiting for the cabro installation in the marketplaces and streets to keep the grounds clean,” Muthoni noted.
The development comes as vocational institutions increasingly seek to complement classroom instruction with practical production, enabling trainees to gain experience that can be applied if one gets employed or embraces self-employment.
For residents and traders in Kahuho and Waruku, the paving works are expected to improve pedestrian movement and the general condition of the shopping centres while giving local businesses a more conducive environment to operate.
The use of cabro produced within VTCs also provides an opportunity for the institutions to demonstrate the value of technical skills beyond the classroom by contributing directly to development projects within their communities.
By Winjoy Makena and Grace Naishoo
