The Turkana County Government has directed its eight vocational training institutions to overhaul their programmes and align training with sectors identified as having the greatest potential to create jobs, generate wealth and transform the county’s economy. The county has identified fishing, livestock, green energy, minerals and extractives as key economic sectors that vocational institutions should prioritise when developing courses and training programmes.
Speaking during the opening of a two-day forum on the implementation of the County Vocational Training Strategic Plan in Kakuma, Deputy Governor Dr John Erus said vocational institutions must move away from generic courses and focus on skills linked to real economic opportunities.
He warned that institutions that fail to align their training with market demand risk producing graduates with skills that are not relevant to available jobs.
“This is an intentional action to ensure vocational institutions strengthen the dominant economic activity in their areas,” Dr Erus said.
Training linked to local economic opportunities
Dr Erus said each vocational institution should develop programmes based on the dominant economic activities and opportunities within its locality. He cited the Lake Turkana fishing corridor as an example, saying the area between Todonyang and Mugur has significant potential to generate hundreds of millions of shillings through the fisheries sector.
As a result, vocational institutions in Kalokol and Kataboi have been encouraged to introduce specialised courses such as boat building, fishing equipment maintenance and cold chain management.
“With that potential, institutions in Kalokol and Kataboi must begin to offer courses like boat making, fishing equipment maintenance and cold chain handling to stay relevant,” he said.
The Deputy Governor said Turkana was borrowing lessons from countries such as Germany and Italy, where vocational training is closely linked to dominant industries and local economic needs. He added that aligning skills development with the county’s economic potential would help prepare young people for emerging employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Strategic plan to guide vocational training
Educationist and International Labour Organization (ILO) consultant Dr Lawrence Odollo, who participated in developing the strategic plan, said successful implementation would depend on adequate funding. He noted that vocational institutions would require qualified trainers, modern equipment and strong partnerships with industries to deliver market-driven training.
Dr Odollo also advised the county government to organise residents into cooperatives along the identified value chains to create employment and business opportunities for graduates.
“The dynamic nature of vocational training requires strategic and system-based thinking. The County now has a Strategic Plan to ensure each vocational institution effectively contributes to the local economy,” he said.
ILO Technical Advisor Carolyne Njuki said market-driven training had already demonstrated positive results in Turkana. She cited the training and certification of artisans in cobblestone technology during the construction of the Lodwar Fresh Produce Market as an example of how skills development can be linked directly to infrastructure projects and employment opportunities. Njuki said the ILO would continue supporting the county by sharing labour market information to help keep vocational training programmes relevant to changing industry needs.
Over 2,400 youth enrolled in Turkana vocational institutions
Turkana County runs eight vocational training institutions in Lodwar, Kalokol, Kataboi, Lorgum, Lokichar, Lokori and Lokichoggio, with a combined enrolment of more than 2,400 young people. Chief Officer Stephen Eregae said the new strategic plan seeks to strengthen each institution and position them as independent learning and examination centres.
The institutions will also be expected to develop specialised programmes based on the economic strengths of their respective areas.
“Through this strategic plan, we intend to elevate each of them as independent learning and examination centres aligned with the dominant economic activities in their areas,” Eregae said.
The two-day forum, supported by the International Labour Organization, brought together members of the County Assembly Committee on Education, Sports and Social Protection, county government officials and development partners.
The initiative highlights a growing shift towards demand-driven vocational education, where training institutions are increasingly expected to prepare learners not only for employment but also for entrepreneurship and participation in local value chains. As Turkana seeks to unlock opportunities in the blue economy, livestock production, renewable energy and extractives, vocational institutions are expected to play a central role in producing the skilled workforce needed to drive the county’s economic transformation.