Labour PS Mwadime meets Swisscontact on TVET jobs agenda

Principal Secretary for Labour and Skills Development, Shadrack Mwadime, is betting that closer collaboration between government and industry could help tackle one of Kenya’s most persistent challenges: unemployment among Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates.

Speaking during a meeting at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection headquarters in Nairobi, Mwadime underscored the urgency of aligning training programmes with real market demand from manufacturers, the construction sector and other private-sector players.

For years, employers have argued that many graduates leave training institutions with certificates but lack the hands-on competencies required in modern workplaces.

At the centre of the reform effort is the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), which is spearheading changes aimed at recalibrating the country’s skills development framework. The new approach promotes deeper collaboration between TVET institutions and industry, with employers playing a direct role in shaping curricula and providing structured workplace learning opportunities.

During the meeting, Swisscontact Kenya Country Director Sharon Mosin-Urner reaffirmed the organisation’s support for the government’s demand-driven skills agenda through its dual apprenticeship programme.

 Delivered in partnership with Don Bosco Boys Town and more than 60 companies, the initiative offers a NITA-accredited training model in which students spend 25 per cent of their time in classroom instruction and 75 per cent in supervised workplace placements.

Proponents argue that such models address a long-standing mismatch between education and employment. By embedding trainees within companies during their studies, learners are exposed to real work environments before graduation, potentially improving their chances of securing jobs.

Kenya continues to face rising youth unemployment even as sectors such as construction, manufacturing and services report persistent skills shortages. Policymakers increasingly view apprenticeships and industry-co-designed training as a practical pathway to bridge that disconnect.

However, scaling the approach will require sustained commitment from the private sector. Apprenticeship placements demand resources, supervision and coordination, while NITA’s oversight will be critical to maintaining quality, consistency and national standards across institutions.