Kenyan Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates are set to benefit from increased international employment opportunities as the Government strengthens partnerships with foreign institutions and industry to align training with global labour market demands.
Principal Secretary for the State Department for TVET, Dr Esther Thaara Muoria, said international partnerships are critical in equipping Kenyan youth with skills that meet international standards and respond to emerging employment opportunities. Speaking during a dinner at Kabete National Polytechnic to mark the completion of final assessments for the first cohort under the Signet Institute of Australia programme, Dr Muoria said Kenya must prepare its graduates to compete for jobs both locally and internationally.
“We are not training our trainees just for local industries. We want them internationalized,” she said.
The assessment brought together 133 trainees and about 33 trainers from Kabete National Polytechnic, Nairobi National Polytechnic, Kisii National Polytechnic, Eldoret National Polytechnic and Machakos Technical Institute for the Blind. The trainees are pursuing a Diploma in Community Service and Individual Support, specialising in ageing and disability support. The broader programme also covers areas including engineering, automotive, construction, health, community services and leadership.
The assessments were moderated by a Signet Institute of Australia Master Trainer, providing an international benchmark for the competencies acquired by the trainees. Dr Muoria said the assessment demonstrated the capacity of Kenyan TVET institutions to deliver competency-based training aligned with international standards.
“After three weeks of intensive assessment, I am proud to hear from the international assessors that the trainees were rated at 90 per cent in their areas of skills development. That means it is excellent,” said Dr Muoria.
She said the assessment results provided an important external affirmation of the quality of skills being developed in Kenya while boosting confidence among trainees and trainers to participate in international skills competitions and pursue employment opportunities abroad.
Government seeks to make Kenya a global skills hub
Dr Muoria said Kenya’s ambition to become a global skills hub requires a TVET system that is industry-responsive, internationally benchmarked and capable of preparing young people for the global labour market.
She noted that international exposure would allow Kenyan workers to acquire new technologies, experience and skills that could contribute to the country’s industrialisation and economic development.
The PS emphasised that Kenya’s industrial transformation should be driven by a skilled local workforce equipped with the right competencies.
She described the Signet partnership as an example of how international agreements can translate into practical training, assessment and exposure to global standards.
“The partnership demonstrates the value of global collaboration in aligning TVET with industry needs, international standards and emerging labour-market opportunities,” she said.
TVETs urged to strengthen industry linkages
Dr Muoria further said the Government was strengthening collaboration between TVET institutions, industry and universities to bridge the gap between training and production.
She identified opportunities for TVET institutions to support local manufacturing of vehicle parts and components, including those used in electric vehicles.
Other areas of potential collaboration include automotive, agriculture and apparel manufacturing, where TVET institutions can contribute technical expertise, innovation and production capacity.
“Through collaboration, TVETs have an opportunity to deepen industry linkages, promote technology transfer, enhance practical skills and support market-driven production,” she said.
Signet Institute Operations Manager, Mohit, said the programme had enabled Australian trainers to work alongside their Kenyan counterparts while assessing the competencies of the trainees.
He said the partnership brought together Australian training standards, Australian Master Trainers, Kenyan trainers, TVET institutions and trainees in one programme.
“Tonight, we are bringing together Australian training standards, the strength and experience of Kenya’s TVET institutions, Australian Master Trainers, Kenyan trainers and most importantly, Kenyan trainees,” he said.
Mohit said the successful assessment demonstrated that international partnerships could provide practical avenues for skills development, benchmarking and global employability.
“We are not discussing whether it can be done, because we are doing it,” he said.
Australian assessors also commended the trainees and trainers, with one assessor indicating that about 90 per cent of the trainees had demonstrated the required competencies.
Graduates to access opportunities in Australia
Kabete National Polytechnic Principal Dr Patrick Muchemi said the assessment marked another milestone in efforts to position Kenyan TVET graduates for the global skills market. He urged TVET institutions to make better use of their equipment, technical expertise and partnerships to strengthen production, innovation and enterprise development.
The first cohort is expected to graduate in November, with the programme providing pathways to employment opportunities in Australia. The Signet partnership forms part of the Government’s broader TVET transformation agenda aimed at strengthening competency-based training, industry linkages, international benchmarking and practical learning. The initiative is expected to give Kenyan trainees greater exposure to international standards while creating pathways for skilled graduates to access employment opportunities beyond the country’s borders.
My experience suggests that securing visas remains a significant hurdle for many graduates. This legal process often takes much longer than expected.