By H, KNA
The Kenya Association of Technical Training Institutions (KATTI) South Rift Region TVET Fairs, Innovation, Research, Robotics and Skills Contest 2025 has officially been opened in Kericho town, bringing together innovators, researchers and trainees from across the region.
The two-day event has attracted 179 innovations, 14 skills areas, and 25 research papers, reflecting the creativity and technical excellence within Kenya’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ecosystem.
Presiding over the official opening, Director of TVETs at the State Department for TVET, Dr Joseph Kanyi, represented the Principal Secretary, Dr Esther Muoria, who hailed the fair as a vital platform for nurturing innovation, skills development, and industry collaboration.
In a speech read on her behalf, PS Muoria said that this year’s theme, “TVETs for Sustainable Development: Science, Technology, Innovation for Economic Resilience”, underscores the role of vocational training in powering the nation’s economic transformation.
“The TVETs fair and skills competition are more than just events; they are a submission of creativity, innovation and technical excellence. They provide a unique opportunity for young people to showcase their talents, test their skills against the best, and demonstrate how TVETs can directly respond to the needs of industry,” she stated.
The PS revealed that the Ministry has rolled out strategies to make TVETs a driver of innovation and enterprise, including establishing incubation hubs, strengthening industry linkages, and promoting applied research.
She further emphasised that the competitions help benchmark local skills against international standards, build global competitiveness, and inspire confidence in trainees while boosting their employability.
“Innovation and competitions are at the heart of TVET’s contribution to national development. They bring together science, technology, creativity and determination, all essential in building a resilient economy,” she added.
Earlier, Dr Kanyi, who is also a personal assistant and a technical advisor in the office of the PS, urged institutions to embrace sustainability by turning innovations into commercial ventures and strengthening industrial linkages.
Kanyi challenged participants to go beyond demonstrations and develop market-ready products that could be patented and sold.
“Let us move away from the obvious. Innovations should not only work but also be attractive, marketable and ready for commercialisation. This is the only way to make sense of these fairs,” Kanyi added.
He added that TVET institutions should work towards becoming self-sustaining by producing goods and services for their own use, other TVETS and the wider market.
The annual contest brings together trainees from technical training institutions across the South Rift region, offering a stage to showcase green technologies, ICT solutions, manufacturing innovations, agribusiness projects, and service industry skills.
The winners of this year’s competitions will proceed to the national TVET Fairs and Skills Contest later in the year.