Taita taveta: Taita Taveta National Polytechnic (TTNP) is set to graduate 16 trainees from its pioneering Competency-Based Education and Training gemology programme this term, marking a significant milestone in Kenya’s technical education transformation.
According to Kenya News Agency, the graduation comes as TTNP, the only national polytechnic in Kenya offering gemology training, reports nearly tripling its enrollment from 33 students when the programme was launched to almost 100 current trainees. Daniel Mutisya, the Head of Department in the Engineering Department at TTNP, attributes this success to the dual training model that combines classroom instruction with hands-on industry experience.
“Our industry partners are very happy with the trainees we send out to them. Initially, they used to work with totally unskilled individuals, but right now we give them people who are skilled and have spent time with them during the dual training programme. Once they get our trainees, they hit the ground running,” said Mutisya.
The gemology programme represents a practical application of CBET principles, which focus on demonstrable skills rather than theoretical knowledge. Trainees work with state-of-the-art equipment worth Sh47 million, commissioned by the national government to process Taita Taveta’s abundant gemstones, particularly Tsavorite, into market-ready jewelry pieces.
TTNP’s success stems from strong partnerships with industry players, including Murangiri Gems, East Africa Gems, Javan International, Chawia Mining CBO, and the Voi Gemstone Value Addition Centre. Under the dual training model, students alternate between polytechnic labs and industry workplaces, ensuring they graduate with both technical skills and workplace experience.
The model aligns with Kenya’s newly launched National Dual Training Policy, approved by Cabinet in January 2025, which formalises partnerships between TVET institutions and industry. “The dual training programme has been instrumental in this program’s success,” Mutisya noted, adding that “Our trainees interact with industry as they study, so by the time they finish, they’ve not only gained the skill but understand the market.”
TTNP offers gemology training at four levels, with durations ranging from one term for Level 3 to seven terms for Level 6. This modular structure, central to CBET design, allows students to enter the workforce quickly at entry levels or pursue deeper expertise for specialised roles. “Level 3 trainees can hit the market after just three months with skills they can use to earn a living. This flexibility is crucial for many young people who need to start working quickly,” he explained.
The shift to CBET addresses long-standing concerns about Kenya’s technical training system. A 2017 Kenya Association of Manufacturers survey found that TVET curricula often didn’t match industry needs, with graduates lacking practical skills despite years of theoretical study. Principal Secretary for TVET, Dr Esther Muoria, emphasised during a recent visit to TTNP that the government aims to enroll two million students in TVET institutions by June next year. She challenged TTNP, which currently serves 3,400 students, to expand enrollment to meet its potential as a national polytechnic.
“Becoming a national polytechnic is not just about getting the name; it’s about doing what a national polytechnic is supposed to do,” Dr Muoria stated. While gemology showcases TTNP’s specialised offerings, the polytechnic has aligned its entire curriculum to CBET standards. Programmes in hospitality and tourism, mechanical and automotive engineering, electrical and electronics engineering, building and civil engineering, and other technical fields similarly emphasise performance-based training, with students gaining experience in real-world settings including the institution’s own hotel.
Despite growing success, TTNP identifies awareness as its biggest obstacle. “When you’re talking about gemology, very few people know what it’s all about. We first have to educate them about the industry and its potential,” Mutisya said. The polytechnic is addressing this through product marketing, producing commercial jewelry pieces alongside training activities.
“When we have products out there in the market, they speak for us and help create awareness about our programme,” he said. For Taita Taveta County, rich in mineral resources but historically dependent on raw material extraction, TTNP’s gemology programme offers a path to greater local value addition. Graduates can potentially handle the entire value chain from mining to jewelry design, retaining economic benefits within the county and country.
As the first cohort prepares to graduate, TTNP’s experience offers lessons for Kenya’s broader CBET rollout that strong industry partnerships are essential, modular flexible programming increases access, and adequate infrastructure investment pays dividends in graduate quality and industry satisfaction. The polytechnic’s achievement demonstrates that with proper implementation, competency-based training can transform both individual career prospects and entire local economies, precisely the outcome that Kenya’s CBET revolution aims to achieve.