Kenya’s efforts to expand Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) must focus on synchronizing graduates’ skills with industry demands to effectively reduce youth unemployment, says Japhet Ngeno, a TVET Department official.
Speaking on NTV, Ngeno clarified that the challenge is less about a skills shortage and more about a skills mismatch, where the competencies acquired by graduates do not align with employer requirements. This disconnect often results from outdated training equipment and curricula that lag behind technological advancements in the workplace.
Outdated Training vs Modern Industry Needs
Using mechanical engineering as an example, Ngeno noted that some institutions still teach students using traditional lathe machines, while many industries have transitioned to Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines. Graduates trained on older equipment struggle to adapt, leading to job dissatisfaction or resignation.
Government Reforms and Industry Collaboration
The Kenyan government has increased funding to TVET institutions through the Higher Education Fund and aims to double enrollment to two million trainees. Despite this, employers report difficulties filling technical roles. A 2023 Federation of Kenya Employers survey found that 20% of enterprises had hard-to-fill vacancies, often resorting to hiring underqualified candidates.
To bridge this gap, Ngeno advocates for stronger partnerships between government, training institutions, and industry stakeholders to develop curricula that reflect current workplace realities. Sector councils involving industry players help define occupational standards, ensuring training remains relevant across fields such as agriculture, engineering, and construction.
Innovation and Formal Recognition of Informal Skills
Beyond technical skills, the TVET Department is establishing innovation hubs to equip students with entrepreneurship, digital literacy, and soft skills, preparing them for both employment and self-employment opportunities.
Ngeno also highlighted the need to formally recognize skills acquired outside traditional education, particularly in Kenya’s growing creative economy, where many young people engage in digital marketing and content creation without formal qualifications. Formalizing these competencies would integrate more workers into the formal economy and broaden tax contributions.
“We want to formalize everything so that everybody is accounted for,” Ngeno said, emphasizing a collaborative, dynamic approach to education and industry alignment as central to Kenya’s economic growth and youth employment solutions.
