In a significant move to revolutionise technical and vocational training, Meru County has launched a comprehensive KSh 240 million initiative to enhance skills development and early learning foundations.
Governor Isaac Mutuma officially flagged off new training equipment and released crucial capitation funds, marking a strategic shift from certificate-based learning towards building a competitive skills-driven economy. The programme directly targets Vocational Training Centres and Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres across the county.
Breaking Down the Investment:
The substantial investment is being allocated across several key areas to address both immediate and long-term training needs:
- Modern Training Equipment: The county has procured and dispatched state-of-the-art training tools worth Ksh 23.5 million for its VTCs. This equipment is targeted at priority, high-demand trades such as plumbing, welding, and Information Communication Technology (ICT).
- Direct Trainee Support: A total of 1,580 trainees will benefit from newly released capitation funds. Additionally, the county has cleared pending trainee bills amounting to Ksh 9.1 million, alleviating financial burdens and ensuring uninterrupted learning.
- Infrastructure Development: Governor Mutuma announced that the construction of modern workshops and classrooms is set to commence across VTCs, pending the approval of the county budget. This promises to provide a conducive physical environment for hands-on skills acquisition.
A Strategic Shift Towards Skills:
Governor Mutuma emphasized the programme’s core objective. “This initiative is about prioritizing practical, market-driven skills that empower our youth and build our local economy,” he stated. The focus on trades like plumbing, welding, and ICT underscores the county’s commitment to aligning training with current and future labour market demands.
Meru Governor- Isaac Mutuma
The initiative has received strong endorsement from Technical Training Institute (TTI) principals within the county. They have lauded the donation, noting that the modern equipment will significantly enhance the quality of practical training for learners, better preparing them for employment and entrepreneurship.
This multi-faceted injection of resources marks a major boost for Meru’s vocational training sector, setting a precedent for county-led investment in building a competent and skilled workforce for Kenya’s growing economy.