The government has stepped up efforts to transition idle youth into vocational training, launching a grassroots mobilization campaign targeting school leavers in Rachuonyo Sub-County.
Local administrators have been directed to recruit eligible candidates to enrol at Rachuonyo Technical and Vocational Institute (RTVC), to equip them with the technical and practical competencies needed in today’s job market.
Aligning Skills with Economic Priorities
Rachuonyo Deputy County Commissioner Silvester Mwangulu said the initiative supports the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which focuses on empowering citizens at the grassroots level to drive inclusive economic growth.
Under BETA, youth are expected to participate in infrastructure projects such as affordable housing, construction of modern markets, roads, and industrial parks. As such, vocational training is being positioned as a direct pathway to employment in these sectors.
“Youth must be equipped with practical skills that match ongoing development projects,” the DCC noted, adding that training opportunities also extend to electronics repair, mobile phone servicing, solar installation, and small-scale entrepreneurship.
Supporting Local and International Opportunities
The training drive also complements the Kazi Majuu initiative, which facilitates overseas employment opportunities in regions including America, Asia, and the Middle East. According to officials, global labor markets increasingly demand certified technical skills.
The DCC revealed that approximately 400,000 skilled youth are currently engaged in government-led projects, including the Affordable Housing Programme, demonstrating the employment potential of vocational training.
Addressing Skills Gaps at the Grassroots
RTVC Principal Nelly Okeye emphasized that many young people complete formal education without acquiring the hands-on skills necessary for self-reliance.
“We want to enrol idle youth from villages and equip them with life skills, not just theoretical knowledge,” she said.
The institute offers courses in building technology, fashion design, and other programs open to both male and female students. It also runs a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme to certify individuals who have acquired skills informally.
A Community-Based Recruitment Strategy
The enrollment push was formalized during a stakeholders’ meeting bringing together RTVC management, local chiefs, and officials from the State Department of Technical and Vocational Training. Chiefs were assigned recruitment targets to help the institution operate at full capacity.
Officials reaffirmed that expanding access to hands-on training is central to economic empowerment, job creation, and social stability, especially among rural youth.