The Government is advancing reforms in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) through strengthened collaboration with industry and development partners to ensure training is responsive to labour market needs, produces competent and industry-ready graduates and supports national economic transformation.
Principal Secretary for the State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Dr Esther Muoria, said the Government would continue to deepen collaboration between training institutions and industry to ensure that skills development responds to the changing demands of the labour market.
Speaking during a project visit to the Nairobi National Polytechnic on Tuesday, the PS said the practical demonstrations in the Automotive Mechatronics workshop provided tangible evidence of the impact of Dual TVET in bridging the gap between classroom instruction and workplace competencies.
Dr Muoria observed that the integration of structured workplace learning into technical training was enabling young people to acquire practical competencies, industry experience and the confidence required to transition into employment.
“The practical demonstrations in the automotive sector are a clear indication of the value of this collaboration. We have continued to see the impact of dual training on our young people, particularly in equipping them with competencies that respond directly to industry needs,” she said.
The PS expressed appreciation to the development partners and industry players supporting the initiative, noting that such partnerships were critical in strengthening the quality, relevance and responsiveness of TVET programmes.
She urged TVET institutions to sustain collaboration with employers in curriculum delivery, practical training and workplace placements to ensure that graduates acquire the requisite skills for productive engagement in the labour market.
Dr Muoria said the Government remained committed to positioning TVET as a key driver of youth empowerment, industrialization and national economic development.
Finnish Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Riina-Riikka Heikka, said the partnership demonstrated the transformative potential of investing in technical skills development, noting that the results emerging from Dual TVET were adding value to both trainees and employers.
She identified confidence, motivation and pride among young people as important outcomes of quality technical training, observing that the combination of institutional instruction and workplace experience gave trainees a stronger foundation for their professional journeys.
Heikka said Kenya’s youthful population presented a significant opportunity for economic growth, adding that sustained investment in quality TVET would enable young people to harness their potential and contribute meaningfully to national development.
She called for continued investment in TVET institutions and partnerships that strengthen the dual nature of training, noting that industry participation was essential in ensuring that skills development translated into tangible employment outcomes.
On his part, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Kenya, H.E. Kang Hyung-shik, said TVET provided a solid foundation for linking education with employment through the integration of classroom learning and practical industry experience.
He noted that the combination was essential in making training relevant to the needs of employers and ensuring that graduates were adequately prepared for the world of work.
The Ambassador acknowledged the partnership between Nairobi National Polytechnic and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), particularly the development of the beauty training centre, expressing satisfaction with the progress made in implementing the collaboration.
German Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Sebastian Groth, said he was impressed by the progress made in strengthening Kenya’s TVET sector, describing the cooperation between Kenya and Germany as mutually beneficial.
He observed that the two countries shared common interests in skills development, economic cooperation and creating opportunities for young people, adding that technical skills development could also support structured labour mobility.
Groth said Germany recognised the potential of skilled and ambitious Kenyan youth, noting that cooperation in technical training could create opportunities for skills mobility while responding to labour market needs in both countries.
He emphasized the importance of equipping young people with relevant expertise and internationally competitive competencies to enable them to participate in emerging employment opportunities.
The visit was undertaken under the Promotion of Youth Employment and Vocational Training Project, which supports the Ministry of Education in strengthening and institutionalizing Dual TVET in Kenya.
The initiative combines institution-based theoretical instruction with structured workplace learning through partnerships between training institutions and employers.
As of November 2026, approximately 100 TVET institutions had institutionalized Dual TVET programmes, with more than 2,000 companies participating in the initiative and about 20,000 trainees enrolled across the country.
At Nairobi National Polytechnic, the programme has benefited more than 200 trainees in Automotive Technology, Hospitality and Information and Communication Technology since the institution began piloting Dual TVET in 2020.
The institution, which has more than 10,000 trainees and offers over 200 courses, also serves as a Centre of Excellence in Automotive Mechatronics, with support from the German development bank KfW through the construction and equipping of modern training workshops.
The project is implemented through technical cooperation, including instructor training, curriculum development and modern teaching methodologies, alongside financial support for infrastructure and equipment to strengthen practical skills development.
By Joan Ogolla
