Nairobi: Vocational Training Centres in Kiambu are taking on a new role in local development by producing cabro stones for use in improving roads, walkways, and trading centres across the county. At Muguga Vocational Training Centre in Muguga Ward, Kabete Sub-County, cabro installation is currently underway within the institution’s compound.
According to Kenya News Agency, the initiative was introduced by the Kiambu County Government in March 2025 as part of efforts to revitalize Vocational Training Centres by equipping them with cabro-making machines and creating opportunities for trainees to apply their technical skills in practical projects. The programme is also intended to promote local manufacture of paving blocks by students to upgrade rural markets, streets, and walkways while gaining practical construction skills.
Governor Kimani Wamatangi stated that the County has also installed cabro-making machines at Kamirithu, Ruiru, and Juja Farm VTCs, adding that installation was underway in at least one VTC in every sub-county. He noted that the programme would provide young people with opportunities to engage in meaningful economic activities while gaining skills and enhancing their employability.
At Muguga VTC, the locally produced cabro stones are being used within the institution before being utilized in nearby trading centres, creating a direct link between technical training and community infrastructure development. Mary Muthoni, a resident of Kahuho in Kabete Sub-County, mentioned that the planned improvement of the shopping centers would make the area more accessible and provide a better environment for traders and customers. She praised the county government’s efforts to improve the rural markets and streets, expressing anticipation for the cabro installation in marketplaces and streets to maintain cleanliness.
The development comes as vocational institutions increasingly seek to complement classroom instruction with practical production, enabling trainees to gain experience that can be applied in employment or self-employment. For residents and traders in Kahuho and Waruku, the paving works are expected to improve pedestrian movement and the general condition of the shopping centres, providing local businesses with a more conducive environment to operate.
The use of cabro produced within VTCs also provides an opportunity for the institutions to demonstrate the value of technical skills beyond the classroom by contributing directly to development projects within their communities.
