The government has called on Kenyan youth to embrace Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a pathway to employment, entrepreneurship, and economic self-reliance amid limited opportunities for conventional white-collar jobs. The call was made by Principal Secretary for TVET Dr Esther Muoria and Principal Secretary for Youth Affairs and the Creative Economy Fikirini Jacobs during a National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) TVET marketing and sensitisation engagement at the Kenya Coast National Polytechnic in Mombasa.
The two officials urged young people to pursue practical, industry-relevant training that can equip them with competencies needed in the labour market and enable them to establish their own businesses. They said the government was intensifying nationwide mobilisation to increase enrolment in TVET institutions and strengthen the role of technical training in Kenya’s economic development.
NGAO Officers Tasked with Increasing TVET Enrolment
County commissioners and other national government administrative officers from Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, Taita Taveta and Tana River were challenged to mobilise young people in their respective counties to enrol in technical and vocational training programmes. Muoria said the responsibility now rests with local administrators to connect young people with suitable training, assessment and certification opportunities.
She noted that TVET offers alternative pathways for those who may have missed conventional education progression or cannot undertake lengthy training programmes. The government is also encouraging secondary school leavers who have not joined universities or other higher learning institutions to explore courses offered by TVET institutions.
Recognition of Prior Learning Opens Doors for Skilled Workers
The officials urged administrative officers to identify people who have acquired practical skills through work experience, informal training or everyday activities but lack formal qualifications. Such individuals can pursue assessment and certification through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) framework.
RPL is a structured process that evaluates an individual’s existing knowledge, skills and competencies for possible formal recognition without requiring them to repeat training they have already mastered.
The Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) coordinates and harmonises qualifications within Kenya’s national qualifications framework, including those recognised through RPL. According to KNQA, the process can help workers advance their careers, address skills gaps and gain formal recognition for competencies acquired outside conventional classrooms.
Muoria said the government would continue conducting similar forums across the country to raise awareness of technical training and expand access to skills assessment and certification.
Modular CBET Training Targets Industry Needs
Muoria highlighted modular Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) as an approach that enables learners to acquire specific occupational competencies through shorter, targeted training programmes. The approach is intended to provide flexible learning pathways while ensuring that graduates develop skills relevant to employers and industry requirements.
She also disclosed that engagements had begun with Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery in Lamu to explore customised training programmes aligned with the project’s anticipated workforce needs. The proposed collaboration seeks to prepare Kenyan youth for potential opportunities in technical occupations as industrial projects expand.
The refinery project was presented at the forum as a potential driver of economic development and employment. However, the scale and timing of any resulting jobs will depend on the project’s implementation and workforce requirements.
Government Expands TVET Access Across Counties
Muoria said the government was investing in technical and vocational education to improve access to training and prepare young people for decent work, entrepreneurship and industrial growth. She cited 260 accredited TVET institutions equipped with modern machinery and distributed across the country’s 47 counties, saying the facilities provide opportunities for practical, skills-focused learning.
TVET programmes cover multiple trades and qualification levels, including artisan and craft courses, diplomas, professional training and trade test certification. The training is intended to help learners develop competencies that meet industry standards and support sustainable livelihoods.
Youth Encouraged to Pursue Technical Careers
Jacobs said TVET provides young people with opportunities to acquire practical skills, pursue further education and transition into employment or entrepreneurship. He urged youth not to dismiss technical occupations traditionally associated with blue-collar work, noting that such trades can provide viable routes to income generation and self-employment.
The fields highlighted included carpentry and joinery, refrigeration and air conditioning, welding, masonry, mechanics, scaffolding, electrical installation and plumbing. Jacobs said Kenya’s development ambitions require a workforce equipped with relevant technical knowledge and practical competencies, particularly as demand for conventional office-based employment remains constrained.
TVET as a Pathway to Economic Transformation
The sensitisation campaign reflects the government’s push to position technical and vocational training as a central pillar of youth empowerment, industrial development and employment creation. For young people weighing their education options, TVET offers an opportunity to acquire practical skills, pursue recognised qualifications and develop businesses around their competencies.
Stronger links between training institutions, employers and local communities will be essential to ensure that graduates gain skills aligned with labour-market demand and can access emerging employment opportunities.