A private-sector-led dual apprenticeship programme that has trained over 400 young people in Nairobi has expanded to Mombasa, with organizers targeting at least 280 apprentices in its first cohort in the coastal city.
The Propela Dual Apprenticeship Programme, run by Swisscontact in partnership with the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), seeks to equip youth aged between 18 and 25 with hands-on skills in plumbing and electrical installation, sectors organizers say face a chronic shortage of trained workers along the Coast.
Speaking during the launch, Swisscontact Head of Programme, Jimmy Delyon, said the initiative, which began in Nairobi four years ago, has recorded an 80 percent job retention rate among its graduates, prompting the decision to scale it up to Mombasa.
“The scale potential is huge. We don’t have a cap on the number. The youth unemployment problem is bigger than all of us can solve, but for a start, we are looking at over 280 apprentices getting into this cohort,” said Delyon.
He said the programme targets school leavers with a minimum grade of D-minus, with applications to be received at the NITA training centre in Nyali. Unlike many youth training initiatives, the programme is not sponsored but funded through the NITA training levy, a statutory contribution paid by compliant private companies.
“This is a very good arrangement, and it shows the strength of the collaboration with the government, with the public sector, on how training can be funded and leveraged through both public and private sector financing,” Delyon added.
He noted that the Coast region alone requires more than 5,000 skilled plumbers and electricians annually, a demand that current training capacity falls far short of meeting.
Caroline Kanja, General Manager of Jupiter Energy Solutions, a Nairobi-based electrical firm that has hosted apprentices since the programme’s first cohort, said the initiative addresses a critical gap in technical and soft skills among young technicians.
“Most technicians learn on the job, but skills like reading drawings on site are never taught. This programme gives them that, together with soft skills and self-confidence, so they can even become entrepreneurs,” said Kanja, whose company has taken on nearly 20 apprentices, eight of whom have already graduated.
She warned that engaging unskilled labour often costs firms more in the long run. “The biggest danger is repeat work. You are never quoted to redo a job, so you incur losses, and your name is tarnished because people think you don’t do good work,” she said.
Naeem Pasta, Director of Contech Technology Limited, a Mombasa firm that up cycles shipping containers into modular structures, said partnering with Swisscontact has boosted his company’s productivity by supplying trained plumbers and electricians.
“Mombasa generally lacks training facilities. The fact that they are taking Mombasa seriously is very positive for us in the industry,” said Pasta, adding that the programme is helping youth find structured, well-paying jobs.
By Ramadhan Nassib
