Government expands TVET facilities to match rising student numbers

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has announced new measures to  strengthening technical  and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, citing the need to

accommodate the rising number of learners.

Ogamba said as more than 700,000 learners expected to join the institutions, the government will invest in infrastructure and governance reforms to align training with industry needs.

Speaking at PC Kinyanjui Technical Training Institute in Nairobi during the commissioning of a new 600-bed hostel, Ogamba said the government is prioritizing investment in

infrastructure and governance reforms to align training with industry demands.

“With over 700,000 learners expected to join TVETs, we must expand facilities to provide a safe, modern, and enabling environment for learning. These investments are crucial for

equipping youth with practical skills for the job market,” Ogamba said.

The new hostel, with a capacity of 600 students, is expected to ease accommodation challenges at the institution, which has seen rapid growth in student numbers in recent years.

The new hostel is expected to ease accommodation challenges at the institution, which has recently recorded a surge in enrolment, including 4,000 students in the September intake alone.

Ogamba also highlighted reforms such as the rollout of Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) and dual training programmes aimed at boosting employability.

He noted that training must be demand-driven, with micro-credentials and modularised curricula preparing learners for immediate jobs or entrepreneurship.

The CS underscored the importance of strong governance in TVET institutions, saying Boards of Governors and management teams must ensure prudent use of resources and

foster stronger linkages with industry.

“These reforms are anchored in the TVET Act of 2013 and Vision 2030, which place skills development at the centre of Kenya’s industrialization agenda. TVET will drive Kenya’s transformation into a skills-driven economy,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ogamba assured that the government is in talks with university unions to resolve a lecturers’ strike that has entered its second week.

PC Kinyanjui TTI principal James Kamau welcomed the new facilities, saying they would improve student welfare and enhance access to vocational training.

CS Ogamba used the event to underscore ongoing reforms in the TVET sub-sector, including the rollout of Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) and dual training

programmes.

“The scaling up of competency-based learning is geared towards improving the technical knowledge of our youth and boosting their employability. Training must always be done with

an end in mind to meet the needs of the labor market,” he said.

He further highlighted the importance of effective governance in education institutions, noting that Boards of Governors and Management play a crucial role in ensuring prudent use

of resources and guiding institutions to achieve their strategic goals. “Strong boards are essential in linking training to industry and in enhancing the quality of education offered,”

Ogamba said.

The institute has embraced the government’s call to expand access to TVET, recording over 7,000 new trainees in recent months, including 4,000 during the September intake

alone. Most of the new learners’ hail from Dagoretti South constituency, reflecting growing local interest in vocational education.

In addition, TVET institutions are introducing micro-credentials under the CBET framework to provide short, industry-specific training that prepares youth either for immediate

employment or for entrepreneurship. The modularized CBET curriculum, with 311 programs already rolled out, has streamlined delivery and created smoother progression pathways

for learners.

These reforms are anchored in the TVET Act of 2013 and Kenya’s Vision 2030, which place skills development at the heart of industrialization and job creation. “We are positioning

TVET to be the engine of Kenya’s transformation into a skills- driven economy,” Ogamba emphasized.

The CS confirmed that negotiations are ongoing with university unions to resolve the lecturers’ strike now entering its second week, assuring stakeholders that the government is keen on finding an amicable solution.