Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba has challenged graduates from technical institutions to stop waiting for formal employment and instead use their skills to create enterprises and solve real-world problems, saying the true value of training will be measured by outcomes rather than certificates.
In a speech delivered on his behalf by State Department for TVET Principal Secretary (PS) Esther Muoria during the 12th graduation ceremony of Kisumu National Polytechnic, Ogamba said Kenya’s growing investment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) would only be justified if graduates translated their skills into jobs, innovation, and economic growth.
The CS said the era of relying solely on white-collar employment opportunities was over and urged young people to identify opportunities within their communities.
“Do not wait indefinitely for the perfect vacancy. An inefficient production process, an unprocessed agricultural product, an unreliable service, or an unmet community need may contain the foundation of an enterprise,” he said.
The government, he said, has invested heavily to position TVET as a key driver of youth employment under the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) framework, which emphasizes practical skills and industry readiness.
Ogamba said the success of TVET institutions should not be judged by enrollment numbers or graduation statistics but by the number of graduates securing employment, starting businesses, and contributing solutions to societal challenges.
He challenged graduates to uphold integrity, professionalism, and continuous learning, warning that technical skills alone would not guarantee success in a rapidly changing economy increasingly shaped by technology and automation.
“Your certificate may introduce you, but your conduct will define you. Technical skill without integrity cannot sustain trust. Talent without discipline cannot sustain performance,” he said.
The CS said the government remained committed to strengthening the TVET sector through increased funding and reforms aimed at improving access, quality, and relevance of training.
He revealed that the education budget for the 2026/27 financial year had increased from Sh702.7 billion to Sh784.5 billion, with Sh7.3 billion specifically earmarked for TVET development.
The funding, he said, would support competency-based training, trainee financing, infrastructure development, modern equipment, trainer capacity building, digital systems, research, and innovation.
At the same time, he acknowledged that many institutions continue to face financial challenges arising from delayed and inadequate funding, affecting training materials, equipment maintenance, and workplace learning programmes.
Ogamba said the Ministry of Education was engaging the National Treasury and other agencies to improve the predictability and timeliness of fund disbursements.
The government, he added, is working towards enrolling two million young people in TVET institutions but cautioned that expansion must not compromise quality.
“A qualification should not merely confirm that training occurred. It must provide credible assurance that its holder can perform safely, efficiently, and to the required industry standard,” he said.
The CS also challenged institutions to strengthen links between training and industry by ensuring that workshops, laboratories, and production units are actively used to expose trainees to real market conditions.
He urged TVET colleges to move innovations beyond exhibitions and into commercial production, saying public investment in infrastructure must generate measurable public value.
Ogamba singled out Kisumu National Polytechnic’s role in supporting economic transformation in the Lake Region through specialised programmes in textile technology and the blue economy.
He said investments under the East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project had positioned the institution as a regional flagship center for textile technology, while blue economy programmes were expected to unlock opportunities in fisheries, aquaculture, boat building, fish processing, and water-resource management.
According to the CS, the impact of such projects should be reflected in new enterprises, increased productivity, reduced post-harvest losses, and sustainable employment for young people.
He further called on industry players to become active partners in training by helping develop occupational standards, hosting trainees for industrial attachment, assessing competence, and identifying emerging skills needs.
“We will know this partnership is working when employers repeatedly recruit from this polytechnic and entrust it with workforce upgrading, technical assignments, applied research, and product development,” he said.
In her off-the-cuff remarks, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Principal Secretary Esther Muoria challenged graduates to be proactive in seeking opportunities instead of waiting for formal employment.
The PS urged the graduands to remain industrious, saying success often comes to those who keep themselves engaged and visible in society.
“Don’t just sit at home waiting for work to come. Make yourself busy and sell your skills. When you are active and working hard, opportunities will find you,” she said.
Muoria cited examples of young people who secured opportunities through diligence and dedication in modest jobs, noting that employers often identify talent among those already demonstrating a strong work ethic.
She noted ongoing government affordable housing and hostel projects across the country as avenues where TVET graduates can market their technical skills and gain employment.
The PS further encouraged the graduates to uphold professionalism, integrity, and good character, saying these qualities would distinguish them in the job market.
“Go out there and work even harder. Be a nice person, represent your institution well, and let people see the value of the skills you have acquired. God will open doors for those who are busy and committed to what they do,” she said.
Muoria reiterated that graduates should not expect success to be handed to them but instead take initiative, create networks, and seize opportunities wherever they arise.
By Dorothy Pamella
