Kapenguria: South Rift TVET institutions are banking on a new crop of athletes nurtured within technical colleges to sustain the region’s rich athletics tradition, with officials expressing confidence that trainees selected during the regional championships have the potential to become future national and international champions.
According to Kenya News Agency, the closing ceremony of the South Rift Regional Athletics Championships held at Kericho Teachers Training College showcased the immense sporting talent available within Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions across the region. Kericho Township Technical and Vocational College Principal Shadrack Tonui emphasized the region’s progressive approach to implementing the TVET agenda and its history of producing trailblazers in track and field.
The championships featured 27 institutions from Kericho, Bomet, Nandi, Nakuru, and Narok counties, all renowned as athletics powerhouses in Kenya. Over the course of two days, trainees competed in various track and field events, which also served as a selection exercise for the South Rift team to represent the region at the Kenya Association of Technical Training Institutions (KATTI) National Athletics Championships in Nairobi.
Tonui highlighted the broader significance of the competition, noting that athletics and other co-curricular activities are crucial tools for promoting TVET education, attracting young people to technical training, and supporting the government’s efforts to expand enrollment in skills-based institutions. He stressed the importance of creating platforms that engage and motivate young people, with sports providing opportunities beyond the classroom.
The TVET sector is a key pillar in Kenya’s economic transformation, equipping young people with practical and industry-oriented skills. Technical institutions across the country train thousands annually in fields such as engineering, construction, information technology, agriculture, hospitality, automotive engineering, and renewable energy. As Kenya seeks to create jobs and enhance industrial productivity, TVET institutions are increasingly seen as the primary source of the skilled workforce necessary for manufacturing, infrastructure development, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Tonui also pointed out that integrating sports into TVET education fosters the development of well-rounded graduates by promoting discipline, teamwork, resilience, and healthy lifestyles. However, he raised concerns about inadequate sports infrastructure in many public TVET institutions, which forces talented trainees to train in non-standard environments.
KATTI National Sports and Recreation Chairperson and Bomet Central TVC Principal Id Faraj noted that all nine KATTI regions had conducted similar championships to select teams for the national competition in Nairobi. He highlighted that these championships create life-changing opportunities for trainees, with several participants securing employment in disciplined forces and other institutions through their sporting achievements.
South Rift Deputy Chairperson and Sot Technical Training Institute Principal Robert Cheres emphasized the region’s commitment to integrity in sports by ensuring that participating athletes were genuine trainees from registered institutions. He expressed pride in the standards demonstrated during the championships and optimism for the selected team’s representation at the national level.
The championships concluded with the selection of the South Rift regional team for competition in Nairobi, with officials hopeful that the athletes will excel and serve as ambassadors for the growing role of TVET institutions in developing technical skills and sporting talent across the country.
