Kenya calls for stronger industry-TVET collaboration to build skills leading to jobs

Kenya is pushing for stronger collaboration between industry and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to ensure graduates acquire skills that match the needs of the workplace.

Speaking during the International TVET Conference 2026 in Nairobi, Principal Secretary for TVET Dr Esther Thaara Muoria said employers should have a greater role in shaping training, from identifying skills gaps and developing curricula to providing workplace learning and creating employment opportunities.

“Industry must be more than a recipient of skills. It must be an active partner in shaping them. For Kenya, the direction is clear. We need training from industry, with industry and for industry. When training institutions and employers work together, young people gain practical skills, industry gains the talent it needs, and training becomes more responsive to the world of work,” Muoria said.

The three-day conference, themed “Skills That Work: Advancing Industry-TVET Collaboration for Sustainable Skills and Global Competitiveness,” is bringing together government, employers, training institutions and development partners to examine how to make vocational training more responsive to labour market demands.

Kenya has been expanding industry-based training through the Dual Training model, which combines classroom instruction in TVET institutions with practical training in companies.

Under the Promotion of Youth Employment and Vocational Training Programme, between 50 and 70 per cent of training is undertaken in industry, while 30 to 50 per cent takes place in TVET institutions.

The programme has so far involved more than 2,500 companies and benefited more than 15,000 young people, according to the organisers.

Muoria said employers should also help identify emerging skills, train instructors, participate in assessments, and create clearer pathways from training to employment.

The conference is focusing on workplace-based learning, trainer development, training technologies, skills financing, green and digital skills, gender and inclusion, and recognition of qualifications.

International experts are also sharing experiences from other countries as Kenya seeks approaches that can be adapted to strengthen its TVET system.

A TVET exhibition running alongside the conference is showcasing training technologies, student projects and industry innovations. The exhibition is open to the public.

The conference is organised by the Ministry of Education through the State Department for TVET, with support from the governments of Finland, Germany and South Korea. GIZ is providing technical support and coordination.

South Korean Ambassador to Kenya Kang Hyung-shik, Finnish Ambassador Riina-Riikka Heikka and German Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Konrad Lax attended the opening plenary.

The conference ends on September 11, 2026.