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Up until five years ago, the country’s Technical Vocational and Education Training colleges (TVET) were grappling with a myriad of challenges ranging from lack of critical facilities and equipment to outdated courses long overtaken by the fast-changing needs of modern industry.

However, that is no longer the case as the colleges have received a shot in the arm to allow them take off.
One such TVET is The Kisumu National Polytechnic (TKNP) which is positioning itself as a leader in textile manufacturing.

The institution was recently tapped by the EAST Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP) as one of the 16 Regional Flagship Technical Institutes (RFTIs). The five-year project is financed by the World Bank and the government.

The project supports the development of highly specialized TVET programmes at diploma and degree levels for the training of technicians and TVET faculty as well as industry-recognized short-term training.

Kenya boasts five RFTIs namely; Kenya Coast National Polytechnic (KCNP) which is a regional leader in Blue Economy and Marine technology, Kenya Institute of Highways and Building Technology (KIHBT) Meru National Polytechnic whose niche course is building technology, KenGen Geothermal Training Centre whose number one courses are firmly anchored on geothermal, oil and gas.TKNP is big in garment and textile manufacturing.

Skill shortage

EASTRIP’s National Coordinator, Nelson Gitau says that the objective of EASTRIP is to address skills shortage, increase access, attract more female students and improve the quality of TVET programs in universities and the five RTFIs

He adds, “We are going big in marketing TVET and courses offered in the various institutions digitally with the aim of increasing student enrollment at TVET institutes in programs aimed at meeting skills needs of priority sector including manufacturing, transport and infrastructure, power and energy and information and technology.”

The chief aim of the digital marketing is to champion TVET online and change the mindset of the Kenyan youth in order to reduce unemployment among the young people.