Head of Public Service and Chief of Staff, Felix Koskei has hailed the ongoing reforms in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training(TVET) sector, aimed at positioning the country as a competitive supplier of skilled labour in the global economy.
Speaking during the third Nyeri National Polytechnic International Research and Innovation Conference and Skills expo, Koskei, in a speech read on his behalf by the Education CS, Julius Ogamba, said the government has deliberately placed skills development at the heart of national growth to ensure that the country aligns itself strategically to compete in the global skills market.
“As a country we have come to a clear realization that the future of our economy will not be determined by how many degrees we have produced, but by how many skilled hands, innovative minds and competent professionals we have prepared for industry, enterprise and the world of work,” he said.
The Head of Public Service said the push for realignment is driven by global job market demand, noting that the global labour projections have already forecast a shortage of more 85 million skilled workers by the year 2030, underscoring the urgent need for TVETs to realign themselves.
He said that in response the government has rolled sweeping reforms in the TVET sector including introduction of the dual training model, operationalizing the recognition of prior learning, digitizing skills mapping and investing in modern equipment and infrastructure across all our institutions.
“These are not administrative adjustments; they are structural shifts designed to position Kenya as a serious player in the global skills economy. For many years, technical and vocational education was viewed as an alternative path, but today, it sits at the very centre of our national development agenda. TVET institutions must move beyond papers and presentations and find expressions in workshops, laboratories, enterprises and communities,” he said.
The three-day expo took place under the theme: Applied Research and Innovation as a catalyst for skills, employment and sustainable development, bringing together stakeholders, researchers, industry leaders and policy makers, development partners and trainers.
The expo came at a time when the country is rethinking the role of technical and vocational skills in creation of employment.
Nyeri Governor Dr. Mutahi Kahiga hailed the conference as a game-changer in skill development.
He said his administration had taken deliberate measures including targeted and affirmative programmes, to ensure young people access relevant education, practical training, and opportunities that prepare them for dignified livelihoods.
On vocational training, the governor said his administration had undertaken deliberate measures to enhance the quality and relevance of training offered in the county’s 28 youth polytechnics by distributing modern tools and equipment.
Additionally, the county had also invested in the construction of workshops, aimed at providing a dignified learning environment that supports skills acquisition.
He further said, in order to boost transition and retention rates across the learning institutions they had dedicated 30 percent of the Nyeri County Elimu Fund bursary to support learners in tertiary institutions.
At the same time, Kahiga reiterated his commitment to supporting and partnering with all stakeholders, including the national government to ensure that quality, relevant education and training remains accessible at every level in the county.
“My government takes a keen interest in all levels of education because as an employer, we are deeply concerned about the quality and relevance of the training our current and future workforce receives. The nature of education directly influences the effectiveness, professionalism, and quality of service delivery to the people of our beloved county,” he noted.
The governor also urged the youth to embrace technical and vocational careers, noting that the pathways offer more reliable employment opportunities compared to white collar jobs.
He said that whereas their training facilities had the capacity to accommodate more than the 2,900 learners, the county was struggling with a persistent enrolment challenge, stemming from the negative perception that many young people still hold towards technical and vocational institutions.
“We must work together to help our young people see the pride, value, and real economic promise found in technical and service careers; paths that in many cases, offer more dependable livelihoods than the few white-collar jobs everyone is chasing,” he said.
By Wangari Mwangi
