Kwale county government has launched a Sh30 million Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) fund as part of its commitment to strengthening TVET as well as up-skilling artisans.
Governor Fatuma Achani announced the establishment of the TVET fund as part of an ambitious agenda to reposition technical and vocational education training across the coastal county.
Governor Achani says the devolved government is determined to equip local youth with the competencies necessary to drive economic growth, create employment and ‘reposition Kwale as a leading hub of skilled labour in the coastal region’.
She underscored her administration’s dedication to economic empowerment and poverty reduction through TVET development in enhancing livelihoods and creating economic opportunities.
Achani was speaking when she presided over the issuance of tools of trade to 42 TVET students who benefited from the Kenya Marine Fisheries Socio-Economic Development (KEMFSED) project scholarship program.
The KEMFSED project is implemented by the State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries with support from the World Bank with the project duration being 2020-2025 with funding worth Sh.10 billion.
The Governor confirmed that through the partnership with the KEMFSED project scholarship programme, over 180 students from Kwale have been trained in fields such as dressmaking, tailoring, hairdressing and beauty therapy, electrical installation and electronic repairs, plumbing, masonry, and motor vehicle and refrigerator repairs.
The distributed equipment includes catering tools, hairdressing kits, barbering machines, desktop computers, automotive repair tools, and electrical equipment.
“The county government and KEMFSED project seeks to provide TVET students with practical skills and invest in modern machinery, tools and resources,” she said.
Achani said the devolved unit would be strengthening vocational and technical training to close the skills gap, enhance youth competitiveness in the job market, and drive socio-economic growth at the grassroots level.
She said the renewed TVET initiative is a ‘step in the right direction’ towards improving vocational education and empowering current and next generation of skilled workers.
The Governor further said she would collaborate with public and private stakeholders to ensure that Kwale becomes the choice of destination for technical talents in the coastal region.
She said the TVET fund would offer grants and scholarships to students pursuing vocational and technical courses in local TVET institutions.
The coastal county boss said the future of work is ‘skills driven’ and announced that the county has already secured an initial budgetary allocation of Sh20 million to advance skills development in Kwale.
“TVET should actually become more accessible to all the youth who have basic education level in today’s skills driven world regardless of their socio-economic situation,” said Achani.
“We are committed to making TVET drive economic growth and development by ensuring that our youth are equipped with essential skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the current workforce,” she said.
Achani pointed out that in the past ‘mismatch between skills the youth possess and the demands of the labour market’ has often resulted in widespread unemployment and disillusionment.
She said her administration was at the forefront in promoting TVET towards creating employment opportunities and socio-economic growth for the local youth in a sustainable manner.
“We want the young people to view technical education as a pathway to self-employment and better life in view of the grim reality of unavailability of white-collar jobs in the country,” said Achani, adding that her administration seeks to foster entrepreneurship innovation and job creation.
Achani said the youth should not shy away from blue-collar jobs such as carpentry and joinery, refrigeration and air conditioning, welding, masonry, mechanics, scaffolding, electrical and plumbing, culinary skills among other trades in their quest for a decent and better life.
A beneficiary of the KEMFSED programme Swabrina Abdallah expressed her gratitude for receiving educational support from the Kwale County Government and praised its efforts in strengthening the education sector.
“We appreciate the support from the county and the KEMFSED project because most of us come from poor backgrounds and it’s through this partnership that we get hope,” said Swabrina.
She noted that technical and vocational education and training were a powerful vehicle for equipping young people with employment and entrepreneurial skills to turn around their fortunes.
Another beneficiary, Mwanarusi Ali, welcomed the empowerment initiative noting that it was aimed at improving their access to decent employment.
“The TVET skills development programme will equip the local youth with vocational skills that are necessary to enhance our employability and competitiveness,” said Mwanarusi.
By Hussein Abdullahi
