Matayos MP Geofrey Odanga has urged residents to enrol their children at Dr Wako Murende Technical and Vocational College (TVC), saying the institution equips young people with practical skills to secure employment and establish businesses.
Speaking during the handover of a new 52-seater bus to the college, Odanga called on the community to support the institution by encouraging more learners to pursue technical and vocational education.
“This is our institution as a community, and we are the ones to build it. Let’s enrol our children here to acquire knowledge. Practical skills are essential and important in today’s life,” he said.
Odanga said plans were underway to establish a radio station at the college to provide learners pursuing media-related courses with practical experience and strengthen skills development across its programmes.
“We are working on establishing an institutional radio station to give learners pursuing the course proper practical skills. We are creating a better practical skills environment for all the courses offered here,” he said.
The MP also called for partnerships among learning institutions within the county to expand access to education and technical training, particularly for young people who face difficulties travelling long distances to attend classes.
He said institutions could collaborate to provide learning facilities closer to communities, ensuring that distance and transport costs did not prevent young people from acquiring education and employable skills.
Odanga further announced that President William Ruto had honoured his pledge of Sh5 million towards purchasing an additional school van for the college. He said the money had already been deposited into the institution’s account and urged the board of management to use it for the intended purpose.
The 52-seater bus was acquired through the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF).
Meshack Opwora, a director in the State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), commended the college regarding its focus on food science and processing technology, noting that technical training required practical exposure beyond classroom instruction.
“Technical training needs more exposure through visiting manufacturing plants, participating in agricultural exhibitions, attending sports and drama festivals, and engaging in community outreach. Mobility is a bridge that connects classroom theory and real-world industry practice,” he said.
Opwora urged learners to take advantage of the new bus to broaden their knowledge, gain practical experience and prepare for careers as innovators, entrepreneurs and industrial leaders.
College principal Eng. Francis Miheso said the bus would ease transportation challenges that had affected students’ participation in extracurricular activities and the transportation of the institution’s products.
He said the college had recorded strong performances in sports, including winning 10 gold medals during the national athletics competition held at Nyayo Stadium, and was ranked among the best institutions in special sports.
Miheso added that students had participated in ball games in Mombasa, activities that had previously required the institution to spend substantial amounts hiring transport.
“Our students are hardworking despite the challenges,” he said.
The principal said the college had invested in innovation, research, food processing and value addition, adding that the bus would help transport its products to different parts of the country and generate revenue to support institutional development.
He also highlighted the college’s contribution to the surrounding community through infrastructure and security initiatives, including road improvements, a solar power project and enhanced police patrols.
by Salome Alwanda / Rodgers Omondi
