Over 100 graduates of a painting skills training programme have been challenged to continuously upgrade their technical skills to enhance their employability.
The call was made during the graduation ceremony for trainees under the Africa Workforce Transformation Foundation at Ol Kalou Town affordable housing grounds, where speakers underscored the importance of technical and vocational skills in addressing unemployment and supporting Kenya’s growing construction sector.
The programme, targeting over 250,000 youths countrywide and jointly implemented by the State Department for Housing and Urban Development and the Africa Workforce Transformation Foundation (AWT), is designed to build a highly skilled construction workforce capable of supporting Kenya’s Affordable Housing Programme while meeting international standards for employment opportunities across Africa and the global construction industry.
Executive Director of the Africa Workforce Transformation Foundation, Lilian Kendi, congratulated the graduates for successfully completing the training, describing them as disciplined and skilled workers ready for the labour market.
“Our motto is imparting skills. We are proud of your commitment and will continue recognising you as skilled workers and entrepreneurs,” she said.
Kendi noted that demand for technical personnel continues to grow across various sectors, assuring the graduates that their newly acquired skills would increase their chances of securing employment and earning decent incomes.
She urged them to keep pace with technological advancements through continuous learning and mentorship while encouraging them to train others to expand opportunities in the painting profession.
Commercial Director at Euro Group of Companies, manufacturers of Eurofix Paints, Victor Biage, said the partnership with the trainees had provided the company with valuable feedback from end users of its products.
He noted that the company manufactures paints designed to provide safe and quality living environments while supporting skills development through practical training programmes.
Construction Practices Manager at Habitat for Humanity International’s Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter, Duncan Aballa, said everyone deserves access to decent housing with quality finishes.
He observed that as climate change continues to affect the built environment, there is a growing need for durable construction materials capable of withstanding changing weather conditions.
Aballa commended the graduates for acquiring skills that would contribute to improved housing standards, humane living conditions and better public health outcomes.
One of the graduates, Gilbert Wekesa, expressed gratitude to the foundation for equipping them with practical skills that would enable them to earn an income, support their families and contribute to the country’s economic growth.
He appealed to the government and other stakeholders to facilitate their absorption into the job market, saying the graduates were ready to serve in the construction industry.
Trainer Vincent Mtune said he was delighted to have passed on practical knowledge to the trainees, expressing confidence that they had acquired the expertise required to deliver quality painting services.
“I am confident they are now experts and ready to offer professional services,” he said.
Huduma Primary School Deputy Headteacher Corret Kaguiri said the programme had transformed the learning environment after trainees painted several institutions.
Kaguiri said that the school now has an attractive appearance, creating a better environment for teaching and learning.
The graduation marks the official launch of a bold national initiative that aims to train and upskill more than 250,000 youth in modern construction skills, creating a pipeline of competent artisans and technicians to drive Kenya’s housing and infrastructure development.
By Antony Mwangi
