Kiambu: The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) team has conducted registration for the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme in Kiambu Town as part of efforts to accredit experienced but uncertified workers in the construction sector under the Affordable Housing Programme.
According to Kenya News Agency, the RPL programme is implemented under the Wezesha Vijana initiative in partnership with the Safaricom Foundation, Boma Yangu, and the national Affordable Housing Programme (AHP). This initiative seeks to formalize prior learning and experience, allowing workers to translate hands-on expertise into official qualifications without the need to begin formal classroom training anew.
Programme details indicate that eligible candidates should be aged between 18 and 34 years and have at least one year of practical experience in construction. Priority is extended to those working on Affordable Housing sites in locations like Jamaa, Mathare, Starehe, Shauri Moyo A, Ruiru, and Kiambu.
Lead Officer from Boma Yangu, Samson Ochieng, explained that the initiative targets masons, carpenters, joiners, form workers, steel fixers, and other artisans who have acquired skills on the job but lack formal certification. ‘The programme is set to make them more skilled and employable by giving accreditation that makes them more eligible for jobs,’ Ochieng stated. Successful participants will be awarded nationally recognised certificates through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.
Participants must pay a commitment fee of Sh100. The registration process involves filling forms through site supervisors, submitting copies of identification documents, and providing evidence of skills either through photos or short videos of work in progress. The intake period runs from May to June 2026, with assessments scheduled to commence from 22nd June to 4th July 2026.
Ochieng emphasized the economic benefits of the programme, noting that certified workers will have access to better job opportunities both locally and across Kenya, improved earnings potential, and greater recognition in the formal construction industry.
The initiative supports broader government goals of skills development, youth empowerment, and advancing affordable housing projects. ‘Many construction workers in Kenya acquire valuable technical skills through apprenticeships and on-site experience but remain disadvantaged in the job market due to the absence of formal credentials. The RPL process addresses this gap by assessing and validating existing competencies,’ noted Ochieng.
The programme has garnered support from multiple partners, including the Government of Kenya through the Affordable Housing Programme. Organizers are encouraging eligible workers to seize this opportunity before the registration window closes.
