NAIROBI, Kenya, April 17 – Matili Technical Training Institute in Bungoma County has graduated more than 3,000 students in a ceremony that highlighted the rapid expansion of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Kenya, as the sector continues to gain prominence in addressing youth unemployment and skills gaps.
The graduation, held on April 17, comes amid sweeping government reforms aimed at positioning TVET as a central pillar of the country’s economic transformation agenda.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the government’s investment in technical training reflects a long-term vision anchored in skills development, discipline and integrity.
“It is something that is personal and dear to the Head of State as it is very close to his heart,” he said.
Murkomen emphasised that TVET education goes beyond academic qualification, stressing that mindset and professionalism are equally important in shaping successful careers.
“Education is not just about employment, it is about mindset. The hard work you have gone through does not just give you an opportunity to earn a living, it gives you an opportunity to learn skills to live with people,” he said.
He urged graduates to uphold integrity and excellence in their professions, warning against shortcuts that compromise quality and safety.
“Do not be cheated by anybody to believe that people like the CSs, your leaders, just got here. These are people who have gone through it. Believe and trust in the process,” Murkomen said.
“You must make sure you do well in whatever you do. Do it and do it in an excellent manner,” he added, noting that technical professions often carry life-and-death responsibilities.
Principal Secretary for TVET, Esther Muoria, challenged graduates to take advantage of opportunities created under the government’s expanding skills agenda.
“The expectation of you is to go there and prosper. I wish you every success as you step into your next phase. Go out, work hard and be busy, volunteer, God works with busy people,” she said.
“Work hard, be disciplined and work tirelessly, as you step into this new phase,” she added.
The Matili graduation reflects a broader national surge in TVET enrolment, which has grown significantly over the past three years as government campaigns push for increased uptake of technical education.
According to official data, TVET enrolment rose from 297,000 trainees in 2022 to 718,000 in 2025, a 142 per cent increase. The growth has been driven by nationwide sensitisation campaigns, career fairs and expanded access through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).
The government has also expanded training infrastructure and staffing, increasing TVET trainers from 6,000 in 2022 to 9,500 in 2025, while national polytechnics have grown from 10 to 30 over the same period.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who is leading TVET reforms, has set ambitious targets to further expand the sector, including increasing enrolment to one million trainees by 2026 and two million by 2027.
Key interventions include establishing vocational training centres in every constituency, recruiting 5,800 tutors, and rolling out Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET).
The reforms also include a dual training model aimed at strengthening industry exposure for trainees, alongside curriculum reviews to align programmes with both local and international labour market demands.
In addition, institutions are being encouraged to commercialise products and services from training workshops to generate revenue and support innovation.
As Matili TTI graduates thousands into the job market, the institution’s growing capacity has intensified calls for its elevation to national polytechnic status, a move seen as critical in further strengthening technical training in the region.
