The government has intensified efforts to formally recognize and validate the skills of thousands of Kenyans working in the informal sector through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Delivery Unit Director, Stanley Maindi, said the move is a transformative initiative under the Skills Initiative for Africa (SIFA) project.
The Director explained that RPL was a process that acknowledges learning acquired through multiple ways and involves identifying, evaluating and validating an individual’s knowledge, skills and attitudes, regardless of where they were acquired.
Speaking in Nakuru when he inaugurated the Rift Valley Institute of Business Studies (RVIBS) as a RPL assessment center, the Director pointed out that the program was timely as only a fraction of Kenyans access formal job skill training through tertiary institutions, while millions gain work skill through on-the-job training.
The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Delivery Unit is a statutory body under the State Department for Vocational and Technical Education (SDTVET), and spearheads the national initiative to formally assess and certify skills, knowledge, and experience that individuals have acquired through informal or non-formal means, such as work experience, life experience, informal training or self-study.
RPL a national program spearheaded by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) and the State Department for TVET, helps informal-sector workers especially those in the jua-kali sector (such as mechanics, plumbers, electricians, or masons) who possess valuable skills but lack formal academic papers get officially certified thereby bridging the gap between their practical expertise and formal academic credentials.
Maindi noted that though Kenya’s workforce had demonstrated its potential through skills acquired via apprenticeship, the Jua Kali sector and Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) training institutions, these informally or non-formally obtained skills often go unrecognized limiting their contribution to the labour market and national progress.
Kenya’s Vision 2030, the Director elaborated, highlights the importance of a skilled workforce for socio-economic development, yet systemic barriers in formal education and exclusion of informally acquired competencies continued creating a shortage of skilled workers.
He said by recognizing and integrating non formal skills into the formal system, it would bridge the gap and help in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Four and Eight (Decent work and economic growth.
Maindi observed that millions of Kenyans in the workforce including cosmetologists, plumbers, masons, electricians, welders and landscaping experts among others have honed their skills through apprenticeships and on the job learning method yet majority of them get excluded from the formal job market where certified recognition could significantly enhance their earning potential.
“This exclusion perpetuates socio-economic inequalities and to some extent criminalizes poverty,” stated the Director.
The RPL unit operates in close collaboration with the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA), the TVET Authority (TVETA), and the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council (CDACC) to ensure assessments align with national educational.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can be assessed and certified by National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) or at all accredited National Polytechnics, public universities, and registered Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutes across Kenya.
Candidates undergo a practical or oral assessment and once verified, they receive an official qualification that is recorded on the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF).
Rift Valley Institute of Business Studies (RVIBS) Director John Gitau hailed RPL as a government initiative that provides the credentials required for promotions, better job placements, or salary increases.
Gitau noted that RPL acts as a bridge for workers to enter colleges or universities based on their practical work experience rather than previous exam grades and that it reduces the time and cost of obtaining a certificate by skipping classes for skills an individual has already mastered.
He was happy that RPL offers a solution by enabling individuals to gain formal certifications for skills acquired through non formal means, levelling the playing field for those who have become competent through years of experience and underpayment.
Gitau noted that by assessing and certifying skills through State measures and metrics, bodies like the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) and National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) ensure that certified individuals meet professional standards safeguarding both workers and consumers.
Certification through national bodies also ensures rigorous skills testing, maintaining high standards and safety for all Kenyans. The country’s embrace of RPL is a significant step towards recognizing diverse forms of knowledge. It democratizes knowledge by focusing on the skills themselves rather than the method of acquisition, the official added.
The RVIBS Director said the government’s move to implement policies and initiatives that validate and certify prior learning were commendable and should be scaled up.
The RPL framework, he said was a critical step and its success hinges on collaboration among government agencies, educational institutions, industries and the private sector.
“Kenya’s future depends on nurturing and recognizing a workforce that meets market demands while harnessing the untapped skills of its people,” Gitau stated.
Kabete National Polytechnic Deputy Principal (Academic and Training Affairs), Geoffrey Mutune, indicated that through collaborative efforts and sustained investments in RPL, the nation can build a skilled workforce ready to drive innovation, economic growth and social equity.
Mutune added that Recognition of Prior Learning was unlocking the potential of millions of Kenyans in the informal sector through validation of skills.
“Having official qualifications makes one highly employable, unlocks opportunities for job promotions, and helps individuals meet modern industry standards. Additionally, RPL ensures professionals stay competitive in the job market, as many employers prioritize candidates with accredited skills over those without formal recognition,” the Deputy Principal pointed out.
Mr. Mutune stated that Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) has become a powerful catalyst for improving youth employability and skill development and that by formally recognizing and certifying skills gained through informal and non-formal learning, RPL opens doors to better job opportunities and career advancement for young people.
While noting that RPL has significantly improved employment prospects, especially for individuals from marginalized communities, the Deputy Principal however said there was a need for enhancing RPL awareness campaigns, improving assessment quality, and expanding program accessibility to ensure broader participation and equitable outcomes across diverse populations.
Domitila Ndirangu from Kabete National Polytechnic’s Department of Cosmetology said since the policy’s launch, it has transformed the labor market by empowering millions of informal workers, allowing them to secure jobs, compete for government contracts, and pursue further education.
Ndirangu observed that assessments are heavily tied to national development goals (like affordable housing projects), giving workers a tangible way to elevate their standard of living.
She said that by focusing on practical mastery rather than traditional classroom methods, the program breaks systemic barriers that have historically excluded youth who dropped out of formal schooling.
Board Member of the Nakuru County Tourism and Marketing Board, Joseph Koech, said awareness is crucial to the success of RPL adding that the County was keen to ensure that as many people as possible understood that their skills had value and could be formally recognized.
“By validating skills gained outside formal education, we are acknowledging that knowledge and ability are the true measures of a person’s potential,” stated Mr. Koech.
He pointed out that in Kenya’s vital tourism and hospitality sector, RPL was transforming the workforce by officially validating skills acquired through years of on-the-job training in hotels, tour operations.
He said many individuals working in the informal sector or in remote tourist hotspots possessed world-class hospitality skills but lacked formal academic papers.
He was happy that RPL would bridge this gap and ensure these workers were globally competitive.
He indicated that the Kenyan hospitality industry relies heavily on this program to certify chefs, waiters, receptionists and other hotel staff who learned their trade on the job rather than through formal culinary schools.
by Esther Mwangi/Carol Nyakio
