Nandi Women Representative Cynthia Muge has called for increased investment in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to equip young people and workers with practical skills needed in the changing labour market. Muge said technical training was critical in improving livelihoods, strengthening local economies and helping workers convert practical experience into recognised qualifications.
She spoke at Kaiboi National Polytechnic in Mosop Sub-County during a graduation ceremony for beneficiaries of an upskilling programme organised by the Tourism Fund in partnership with the institution. The programme targeted workers in the tourism and hospitality industry, including experienced practitioners who had acquired skills through years of work but lacked formal certification to demonstrate their competencies.
Muge described the graduation as an important milestone for the beneficiaries, urging them to apply their newly acquired skills to improve service delivery while exploring opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship. She said institutions such as Kaiboi National Polytechnic have an important role to play in preparing trainees for changing labour market demands, noting that academic qualifications need to be complemented by practical competencies.
RPL gives experienced workers a pathway to certification
The programme also provided an opportunity for experienced workers to have competencies acquired through years of practical work assessed and formally recognised. Through such skills recognition programmes, workers can obtain certification based on competencies they already possess instead of starting conventional training from the beginning.
Muge said the approach was important because many Kenyans have valuable practical skills but face challenges in the labour market due to a lack of formal certification. She encouraged institutions and industry stakeholders to expand opportunities that allow workers to validate their competencies and improve their employability.
The legislator also urged the graduands to consider entrepreneurship as they enter the next stage of their careers. She challenged them to use their skills to establish enterprises, seek employment and create opportunities for others rather than relying entirely on formal employment.
“The tourism and hospitality industry has enormous potential to create jobs and generate income if properly supported through skills development, innovation and investment,” she said.
Skills key to tourism growth
Muge noted that the hospitality industry continues to evolve, requiring workers to adapt to new technologies, changing customer expectations and emerging business practices. She said Nandi County could benefit economically from its tourism potential if stakeholders invested in quality hospitality services and a skilled workforce.
“Nandi County has untapped tourism potential that could contribute significantly to the local economy if the county invested in quality hospitality services and a competent workforce,” she added.
She called on tourism stakeholders to strengthen collaboration with training institutions to ensure that courses and skills offered to trainees reflect the needs of employers and the wider industry. Muge also urged the graduands to become ambassadors of professionalism by applying their training to improve customer service and maintain high standards within the hospitality sector.
She said improved hospitality services could benefit individual businesses while making the county more attractive to visitors and potential investors. The programme demonstrates how partnerships between industry stakeholders and TVET institutions can provide opportunities for workers to upgrade their skills, obtain formal recognition and improve their prospects for employment and self-employment.