Nairobi: Over 100 graduates of a painting skills training programme have been challenged to continuously upgrade their technical skills to enhance their employability.
According to Kenya News Agency, the call was made during the graduation ceremony for trainees under the Africa Workforce Transformation Foundation at Ol Kalou Town affordable housing grounds. Speakers at the event highlighted the significance of technical and vocational skills in tackling unemployment and supporting Kenya’s burgeoning construction sector.
The programme, which targets over 250,000 youths nationwide, is a joint effort by the State Department for Housing and Urban Development and the Africa Workforce Transformation Foundation (AWT). It aims to develop a highly skilled construction workforce capable of supporting Kenya’s Affordable Housing Programme while meeting international standards for job opportunities both across Africa and in the global construction industry.
Executive Director of the Africa Workforce Transformation Foundation, Lilian Kendi, applauded the graduates for successfully completing the training. She described them as disciplined and skilled workers ready to enter the labour market. ‘Our motto is imparting skills. We are proud of your commitment and will continue recognising you as skilled workers and entrepreneurs,’ she stated.
Kendi emphasized the growing demand for technical personnel across various sectors, assuring the graduates that their newly acquired skills would enhance their employment prospects and enable them to earn decent incomes. She urged them to stay abreast of technological advancements through continuous learning and mentorship while encouraging them to train others to expand opportunities in the painting profession.
Commercial Director at Euro Group of Companies, manufacturers of Eurofix Paints, Victor Biage, remarked that the partnership with the trainees had provided the company with valuable feedback from users of its products. He noted that the company produces paints designed to offer safe and quality living environments while supporting skills development through practical training programmes.
Duncan Aballa, Construction Practices Manager at Habitat for Humanity International’s Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter, stressed that everyone deserves access to decent housing with quality finishes. He observed that as climate change continues to impact the built environment, there is a rising need for durable construction materials capable of withstanding changing weather conditions. Aballa praised the graduates for acquiring skills that would enhance housing standards, improve living conditions, and promote better public health outcomes.
One of the graduates, Gilbert Wekesa, expressed gratitude to the foundation for equipping them with practical skills that would enable them to earn an income, support their families, and contribute to the country’s economic growth. He appealed to the government and other stakeholders to facilitate their absorption into the job market, stating that the graduates were ready to serve in the construction industry.
Trainer Vincent Mtune expressed delight at having imparted practical knowledge to the trainees, expressing confidence that they had acquired the expertise required to deliver quality painting services. ‘I am confident they are now experts and ready to offer professional services,’ he said.
Corret Kaguiri, Deputy Headteacher at Huduma Primary School, reported that the programme had transformed the learning environment after trainees painted several institutions. Kaguiri noted that the school now boasts an attractive appearance, creating a better environment for teaching and learning.
The graduation signifies the official launch of a national initiative aiming to train and upskill more than 250,000 youth in modern construction skills, thereby creating a pipeline of competent artisans and technicians to propel Kenya’s housing and infrastructure development.
