The TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) Torch, an initiative launched by President William Ruto on the March 26, 2024 at Nyeri National Polytechnic to commemorate 100 years of TVET achievements in Kenya, arrived in Taita Taveta County on Wednesday.
The torch which traverses across the counties in Kenya symbolising the country’s commitment to vocational education was received at Mtito Andei, from the Western region by the TVET fraternity from the coast region led by the TVET Director, Coast Region, Peter Mwangi, and principals from across the coast region lead by Taita Taveta National Polytechnic (TTNP) principal Stephen Ngome and the Taita Taveta County leadership led by Governor Andrew Mwadime.
Addressing the residents at Mtito Andei and Voi towns, Mwangi highlighted the significance of the torch, noting that it not only celebrates a century of vocational training but also amplifies the vital role TVET plays in equipping the youth with essential skills.
He noted that the torch moves across all 47 counties to sensitise the youth to invest in gaining technical skills necessary for the growing demands in industries and to curb youth unemployment which is surging in the country.
Mwangi emphasised that blue-collar jobs, which are attainable through TVET, present significant opportunities for self-employment and are in high demand globally.
“It is only the blue-collar jobs which can be acquired from the skills from our TVET institutions which are now available because, with the blue-collar jobs, you don’t necessarily have to be employed, you can even employ yourself,” said Mwangi.
Mwangi stated that the government has established TVET institutions in almost every constituency enabling youths to join and acquire technical skills. However, despite the government’s efforts to establish a TVET institution in each constituency, Mwangi disclosed that low enrolment rates remain a significant challenge, especially in the Coast region.
He urged the youth to embrace vocational training to fully utilise the resources and facilities provided by the government.
“Nowadays, we have TVET institutions in almost all the constituencies, but you’ll find that most of them have low enrolment. That is the biggest challenge because when you have below-par enrolment, that means there is underutilisation of resources. We are telling the youth to come so that they can be able to utilise the resources, the equipment that has been placed there, the teachers that have been employed, and all the other facilities that have been put there,” he stated.
To cushion youths from poor backgrounds and enable them to learn, Mwangi reiterated that the national government has provided funding to TVET institutions adding that there is a new funding model where the students joining TVETs are getting scholarships and higher education loans to facilitate their studies.
“Funding is not a problem. Anytime a student enrolls, they are funded fully to undertake their studies by the government,” said Mwangi. Stephen Ngome, Principal of Taita Taveta National Polytechnic, echoed Mwangi’s sentiments, stressing that TVET is the “master key” to unlocking industrialisation in Kenya.
He pointed out that without TVET, Kenya would remain dependent on imports for even the most basic items. “Without TVET, we shall be buying even matchboxes from China, even toothpicks, even your camera stands. But with the TVET, we are giving our youth the skills that are viable for industrialisation,” said Ngome.
Despite the milestones made with TVET institutions, Ngome highlighted several challenges, including a lack of support from local leaders and widespread drug abuse, which hinders youth participation in education.
“Our children are staying at home due to poverty and turning to drugs like Muguka. To support the government’s efforts, we need a concerted effort from local leaders and parents to steer our youth towards education and away from substance abuse,” he urged.
He called for community-wide support to guide the youth into vocational centres and TVET colleges, stating that the institutions are well-equipped and staffed with qualified teachers ready to provide the necessary skills for youths to be self-reliant.
“These are equipped institutions with very qualified and skilled teachers who can give skills to our youth. I would urge all parents at home to consider taking their children to these technical colleges and advise them to desist from this business of Miraa and Muguka, and other drugs so that we can have an industrialised county, Taita Taveta, and an industrialized coast region and Kenya at large,” he noted.
On his part, Taita Taveta County governor Andrew Mwadime called on youths in the county to consider joining TVET institutions and acquiring skills that will make them self-dependent.
“For your information, we have a national polytechnic in this county, the Taita Taveta National Polytechnic. But out of the students in the institution, our youths account for only 20% showing that we haven’t fully embraced technical education,” said the governor.
He acknowledged the lack of jobs for youths in the county stating that to bridge the gap, there is a need for youths to join TVETs so that they can acquire knowledge and hands-on skills to grow economically.
Taita Taveta County CECM for education, libraries, and vocational training Gloria Monikombo, CECM for Agriculture, Livestock, fisheries, and irrigation, Eric Kyongo and CECM for youths, sports and culture Shedrack Mutungi, in unison, championed TVETs as the key to unlocking unemployment challenges amongst the youths in the country.
The TVET torch will move across the four Sub-counties of Voi, Mwatate, Wundanyi, and Taveta before crossing the border to Mombasa County and subsequently, to other coastal counties.