Nairobi: Kenya is repositioning Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and placing industry at the center of skills development, with the Government seeking to ensure graduates acquire competencies that match labor-market demands and support industrialization.
According to Kenya News Agency, Principal Secretary, State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Dr. Esther Thaara Muoria, stated that the Government was moving beyond classroom-based training by bringing industries into TVET institutions and expanding opportunities for learners to gain practical experience using real equipment and production environments.
Muoria emphasized that the approach was anchored on the principle of ‘training from industry, with industry, for industry’, encouraging institutions to work closely with employers in curriculum development, training, innovation, and production. Kenya has established 33 national polytechnics and 217 technical and vocational colleges, trained 11,600 trainers in competency-based training, and developed or reviewed about 300 modularized curricula.
Green competencies have been incorporated into 86 curricula, more than 2,500 companies are engaged with TVET institutions, and over 15,000 young people have benefited from dual training. The country approved the Dual Training Policy in January 2025, strengthening a model that combines institutional learning with workplace training.
The Government is further advancing the approach by establishing production and service facilities within TVET institutions, with initiatives in agriculture, apparel manufacturing, and automotive repair. ‘This is about bringing industry into our institutions so that our learners train in environments that reflect the realities of the workplace,’ Muoria said.
During the International TVET conference in Nairobi, Muoria noted that Finland, Germany, and South Korea have committed about 28 million euros to Kenya’s TVET sector, complemented by KOICA support for infrastructure, equipment, and technical expertise. Kenya is implementing the Kenya-Germany Migration and Mobility Partnership, with labor mobility expected to facilitate skills transfer while ensuring recruitment remains safe, ethical, and transparent.
Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Kenya, Kang Hyung-shik, highlighted Korea’s economic transformation and how investment in education, technical skills, and research could support industrial growth. Korea is working with Kenya through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), and other partners to strengthen the workforce, particularly in infrastructure and manufacturing.
Ambassador of Finland to Kenya, Riina-Riikka Heikka, pointed out the importance of quality training, private-sector participation, and inclusion in building an effective TVET system. Finland supports Kenya through the Promotion of Youth Employment and Vocational Training program, jointly funded with Germany and implemented by GIZ in partnership with the State Department for TVET.
Deputy Ambassador of Germany to Kenya, Konrad Lax, emphasized the importance of dual training and the role of companies in skills development. He urged companies to become ‘architects of training’, identifying emerging technologies and skills gaps. Lax highlighted Kenya-Germany labor mobility initiatives, advocating for the managed movement of skilled workers to benefit both countries.
The three-day International TVET Conference 2026, organized by the Ministry of Education, State Department for TVET, is being held under the theme ‘Skills That Work: Advancing Industry-TVET Collaboration for Sustainable Skills and Global Competitiveness.’
