Waiguru pushes digital skills training as 60 youth graduate from Kirinyaga County TVET

Sixty students have graduated with certificates in Computer Studies from the Kirinyaga Agriculture Technical and Vocational Training Institute as the county government moves to expand digital and technical training for youth.

The graduates, drawn from Karumandi Ward where the institution is based, completed the institute’s first Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA)-accredited programme, which county officials say is intended to integrate digital skills into agriculture and other sectors.

Kirinyaga County says additional accredited courses in aquaculture, horticulture and dairy farming will begin in May, with training to progress from short courses to diploma level.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony in Kamweti, County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock, Veterinary and Fisheries John Gachara said digital literacy was introduced as a foundational course to prepare young people for technology-driven agricultural systems.

“Digital literacy is critical for any course. That is why we started with it because agriculture today is technology-driven,” he said.

Gachara said the county plans to expand accredited programmes at the institution in phases and position the centre to serve students beyond Kirinyaga.

Karumandi Ward MCA Caroline Wanjiku said graduates received nationally recognised certificates and noted that those who missed the inaugural intake would have an opportunity in the next cohort.

She added that the ward had allocated KSh6.5 million to support needy students pursuing training at the institution.

Institution Principal Francis Wanyoike said graduates would be encouraged to advance into agriculture-related programmes incorporating digital technologies.

He said such skills would help learners apply digital tools in farming, including pest identification, fertiliser management and market access.

Some graduates described the training as beneficial in improving their digital literacy and preparing them for future opportunities.

“The knowledge I have gained will help me going forward,” said graduate Shanelle Stacy.

Another graduate, Emmanuel Macharia, said the programme had improved his computer literacy and broadened his opportunities.

“Today, the world does not favour someone who is computer illiterate,” he said.