Residents of Tinderet Sub-county are set to benefit from expanded access to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) following continued investment in training infrastructure by area Member of Parliament Julius Melly.
The latest milestone is the completion of a one-storey tuition block at Tinderet Technical and Vocational Training College in Sigoria, alongside a modern Electrical and Electronics Workshop that is scheduled for commissioning later this week.
The projects are expected to increase the institution’s training capacity, improve learning conditions and equip trainees with practical skills required in the labour market.
Speaking during an inspection tour of the institution, Melly said the expansion is part of a broader strategy to strengthen technical education and provide young people with market-driven skills that respond to the needs of Kenya’s evolving economy.
He said the investment reflects his commitment to ensuring that youth from the constituency can access quality technical education closer to home instead of travelling to institutions in other counties.
“We are determined to make Tinderet a centre of excellence in technical and vocational education. Every young person deserves an opportunity to acquire practical skills that can enable them to secure employment or establish their own businesses. Investing in training institutions is one of the surest ways of tackling unemployment and accelerating economic transformation,” said Melly.
The MP noted that the newly completed tuition block will provide additional classrooms, helping to ease congestion while creating a more conducive learning environment for the institution’s growing student population.
He added that the Electrical and Electronics Workshop has been fitted with modern equipment that will enable trainees to acquire practical competencies aligned with current industry standards.
According to Melly, strengthening TVET institutions is critical to producing graduates who are capable of creating employment opportunities rather than relying solely on formal jobs.
“Our goal is to produce graduates who are job creators rather than job seekers. Technical institutions are the backbone of industrial growth because they provide the skilled workforce needed in manufacturing, construction, electrical installation, automotive engineering and other productive sectors,” he said.
The legislator encouraged students who complete secondary education but are unable to join universities to consider technical institutions, saying vocational training offers competitive and rewarding career opportunities.
He observed that the government’s continued support for TVET institutions is helping bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry requirements by placing greater emphasis on practical skills.
Technical and Vocational Education advocate Joseph Kiprono welcomed the expansion, saying the additional facilities would significantly improve the quality of training offered at the college.
He noted that the new infrastructure would increase the institution’s capacity to admit more students while enabling trainees to acquire practical competencies that are highly sought after by employers.
Kiprono added that the improved facilities would support the implementation of competency-based training, which focuses on equipping learners with hands-on skills relevant to the labour market.
According to the college administration, student enrolment has continued to rise as more young people recognise the value of technical education in securing employment and creating self-employment opportunities.
The administration said improved infrastructure and modern workshops are expected to attract even more students from Nandi County and neighbouring regions.
Students at the institution expressed optimism that the new facilities would enhance their learning experience and better prepare them for the workplace.
Electrical engineering trainee Brian Kiprono said access to modern workshops is essential in helping students develop confidence and practical competence.
“Modern workshops make learning more effective because we are able to practise what we learn in class. This gives us the experience required by employers and also enables us to start our own businesses after graduation,” he said.
Another trainee, Faith Chebet, said the improved learning environment would encourage more young people, particularly women, to pursue technical courses that have traditionally attracted fewer female students.
“We are happy to see these investments because they show that technical education is receiving the attention it deserves. More girls are now enrolling in engineering-related courses because they can see promising career opportunities,” she said.
Local residents also welcomed the expansion of the institution, saying it would create more educational opportunities for young people while stimulating economic activity around Sigoria through increased demand for housing, transport, food and other services.
Community elder Daniel Koech described the college as an important driver of development within the area, noting that technical education equips young people with practical skills that improve household incomes and reduce unemployment.
“When young people acquire skills such as electrical installation, welding, plumbing, tailoring and information technology, they become productive members of society. This reduces unemployment and creates income for many families,” he said.
The commissioning of the Electrical and Electronics Workshop later this week is expected to mark another milestone in the transformation of Tinderet Technical and Vocational Training College into a leading centre for skills development in Nandi County.
Education stakeholders have praised continued investment in TVET institutions, saying strengthening technical training is critical to supporting Kenya’s industrialisation agenda, promoting innovation and equipping young people with the practical skills needed to compete in the modern economy.
By Sammy Mwibanda
