By Tindi Kuchio
Bumbe Technical Training Institute which is located in Funyula Constituency of Busia County recently completed the construction of an ultra-modern Building and Civil Engineering Complex.
The complex which houses workshops and a number of laboratories has already been furnished with state-of-the-art training equipment notably; machines for block and cabro making and for soil, concrete and bitumen testing. Others are instruments, tools and equipment used for building and construction technology, land surveying and civil engineering.
Speaking to Education News in his office, the institution’s Principal, Calestus Wanjala Omilo revealed that his administration had over the past five years put in place the requisite infrastructure including rehabilitating the existing buildings and machinery to support learning.
“We received state-of-the-art training equipment in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Avic International of China in July 2017, courtesy of the Kenya-Chinese partnership programme because we are a centre of excellence in the same field of study,” said Wanjala.
He confirmed that the training equipment were installed in the six units housing various skill areas within the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Complex in September 2017.
“We have put up Hospitality and Institutional Management Complex and equipped the Food and Beverage section with modern training facilities such as freezers, refrigerators, electric and charcoal ovens. The training kitchen and restaurant have also been equipped with the relevant facilities to give our trainees the much- needed practical experience,” explained the college head.
He noted that the Hair Dressing and Beauty Therapy section has been equipped with training apparatus such as massage beds, complete set of tongs and stove, blow driers, sterilizing machines, clippers, UV machines, facial steamer and hood dries.
In the area of Fashion Design and Garment Making, the Principal confirmed that workshops had been put up and equipped with electrical and manual sewing machines, twenty U industrial machines, manual overclock machines and electric iron boxes.
Wanjala further noted that his administration had also acquired Interactive Smart Board to boost Information and Communications Technology (ICT) integration in teaching and learning.
The institution has also put up workshops for Automotive Engineering, Carpentry and Joinery, Welding and Fabrication, and a separate one for Plumbing. Vehicle diagnostic equipment, wheel balancing and alignment machines and complete tool boxes have been acquired for Automotive Engineering.
Four computer laboratories with sixty one computers, a library, forty six lecture halls, hostels and a dining hall have been put up.
A new Tuition Block with twelve lecture rooms and a staffroom were recently completed.
The college administration is currently putting up a modern gate. Plans are also at an advanced stage to construct a perimeter wall around the institution as well as mount CCTV cameras and install solar flood lights to boost surveillance and enhance security within and outside the college.
A standby generator has been acquired and installed to mitigate during power outages.
Wanjala revealed that the institution has introduced six Competency Based Education and Training (CBET) courses which include; ICT level 5 and 6, Hair Dressing level 5 and 6, and Beauty Therapy level 5 and 6. Others are; Supply Chain Management level 6, Electrical and Electronics (Power option) level 6 and Baking Technology level 6.
“We are currently, negotiating with other partners through our parent Ministry of Education to enable us start courses in Maritime Technology in order to explore the blue economy based on our proximity to Lake Victoria,” he revealed.
The institution intends to focus more on research in marine work adding that a feasibility study was currently being undertaken.
“We are looking forward to get support from the County Government of Busia to expand our land towards the lake,” he said
The college has partnered with the Kenya Commercial Bank to teach the local community about fish entrepreneurship where two cohorts were trained bringing the total number to 345. Plans are also underway to mount courses on transportation and marine safety for the same community.
Bumbe TTI is currently collaborating with Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology in offering courses like Social Work and Community Development. There are plans to also introduce Criminology course under this collaborative arrangement.
Over the past three years, the institution has been receiving students from the National Youth Service (NYS) who enroll for various courses.
The college has a town campus located on Florida Building in Busia town which offers mostly business courses.
The college got its ISO 9001: 2008 certification in 2014. It has since been recertified and transited to the new standard of ISO 9001: 2015 Quality Management Systems in February 2019.
The institution has established a driving school after getting the required approval from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).
The student enrolment currently stands at 1, 722 up from a paltry 350 five years ago.
Bumbe TTI is the second oldest TVET institution in western Kenya after Sigalagala National Polytechnic, having been established in 1978.
Since its inception, the institution has successfully churned out a total 7, 322 graduates and held two graduation ceremonies one on November 4, 2016 with a total of 670 graduates and the other on October 31, 2019 where a total of 435 trainees graduated.
The institution has 81 trainers and 38 members of the non-teaching staff.
