The government has launched a campaign to encourage school leavers to enrol at Rachuonyo Technical and Vocational Institute (RTVC) to acquire skills that enhance their employability.
Rachuonyo Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Silvester Mwangulu said local administrators have been tasked with mobilizing eligible candidates to join vocational colleges, equipping them with technical competencies that make them attractive in the job market.
The initiative aligns with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), targeting the lowest segment of society to stimulate economic growth and promote uniform development.
“The youth are expected to participate in infrastructure projects under the BETA programme; hence, the need to train them in skills required for constructing affordable housing, modern markets, roads, and industrial parks, as well as small-scale business ventures, electronics shops, phone repairs, and solar light installations,” the DCC explained.
The training is also critical to the Kazi Majuu programme, which deploys skilled local labor abroad. “International job opportunities in America, Asia, and the Middle East require youths equipped with practical skills,” he added.
The DCC noted that skill development among young people is a major job creation initiative. “We have about 400,000 youths with relevant skills currently engaged in government projects, including affordable housing,” he said.
The announcement followed a stakeholders’ meeting that included RTVC management, local chiefs, and their assistants to strategise recruitment for the institution, whose enrolment has remained below capacity.
RTVC Principal Nelly Okeye said many youths who have completed Form Four, Class Eight, or even university lack practical skills. “We want to enrol idle youth from villages to train them in life skills, not just theoretical knowledge,” she said.
During the meeting, chiefs were given targets to mobilize potential students for courses such as building technology, fashion design, and other programmes suitable for both male and female students. The college also runs a Recognition of Prior Learning programme, certifying individuals who previously acquired skills informally.
Other attendees included RTVC Registrar Victor Odera and Mathias Makewa from the State Department of Technical and Vocational Training. Mr Makewa emphasised that government resources enable students to acquire hands-on skills, which are essential for economic and social stability.
by Moseti Julius
