Kisumu County is stepping up investment in Vocational Training Centres (VTC’s) to absorb thousands of youth who miss out on university placement each year, as it shifts focus to skills development to tackle unemployment.
County Chief Officer for Education, Technical Training, Innovation and Social Services, Bovince Ochieng, said the devolved unit is targeting secondary school graduates unable to transition to university, urging them to enroll in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
In an interview with KNA at his office Wednesday, Ochieng said the county is repositioning vocational training as a practical and competitive alternative to academic pathways.
“We want young people who do not make it to university to acquire skills that are relevant in the job market instead of remaining idle,” he said.
The programme has already started bearing fruits with some 3,165 trainees drawn from 28 Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) graduating last month.
Ochieng said this signals a growing uptake of technical training, adding that the department of TVET was creating linkages with industry and partners to expand the training programmes.
The Chief Officer said the graduation underscored the impact of sustained investment by the county and its partners in expanding access to skills training.
Nationally, more than 900,000 candidates sit the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations annually, but only about 200,000 secure direct university placement.
In Kisumu County, about 28,000 candidates sat for KCSE last year, with nearly 16,000 scoring D+ and below.
“This is a significant number of young people who may not proceed to university. We are encouraging them to take up vocational training as an alternative pathway,” he said.
To boost capacity, the county has intensified recruitment of instructors, hiring 25 trainers in the last financial year and planning to recruit a similar number this year.
At the same time, it has invested in workshops and modern equipment to align training with industry demands.
Ochieng said the county spent Sh18 million on tools and equipment last year and has set aside Sh20 million in the current financial year.
The programme is also supported by other development partners including Kenya Blue Economy Skills Training (KBEST), as well as Pratham and Tools to Work, who have provided equipment and technical support.
To integrate technology into training, the Chief Officer said the county has established digital community hubs in selected centres in Ahero, Akado and Katito, where trainees can acquire digital skills and access online work opportunities.
Ochieng added that the county is also working closely with industry players, regulators and training institutions to address the mismatch between training and labour market needs.
“We are engaging industry to ensure that the skills we offer are relevant, while also enhancing opportunities for attachment and employment,” he said.
He disclosed that enrolment in the VTCs has surpassed 7,000 trainees and continues to rise, reflecting growing demand for technical skills.
The county, he said, provides a Sh.15,000 capitation per trainee and has introduced childcare facilities in some centres to support young mothers seeking to continue with training.
“We want to ensure no one is left behind, including vulnerable groups,” Ochieng said.
He added that the county plans to establish vocational training centres in all 35 wards and expand centres of excellence across its eight sub-counties.
The long-term goal, said Ochieng, is to position Kisumu as a hub for skilled labour, noting that demand for technical skills is increasing both locally and globally.
“The world today is driven by skills and we want our youth to be competitive at that level,” he said.
By Chris Mahandara
