- Kisumu County has enrolled more than 6,000 trainees in vocational training centres.
- The county is investing in centres of excellence, digital learning and competency-based training.
- Deputy Governor Dr Mathew Owili says the initiatives are aligned with labour market needs and emerging industries.
Kisumu County Deputy Governor Dr Mathew Owili has revealed that enrolment in vocational training centres (VTCs) has surpassed 6,000 trainees, supported by a county capitation grant of KSh15,000 per student.
Speaking during the induction of newly recruited Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers and Vocational Training Centre trainers, Dr Owili said the county has aligned its training programmes with labour market needs, the blue economy and emerging industries through competency-based training and adoption of the TVET-CDACC curriculum.
Dr Owili said Kisumu’s centres of vocational excellence at Akado and Sabako are already producing skilled graduates in Automotive Engineering and Aquaculture.
Beginning next month, and in partnership with Commundo, the county will establish additional centres of excellence at Koru and Mariwa VTCs, focusing on Vehicle Mechanics and Clothing Technology respectively.
Through innovative production units, trainees are gaining practical industrial experience while contributing to the repair and maintenance of county vehicles and equipment.
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“These initiatives ensure that our graduates leave with marketable skills and real-world experience,” he said.
According to the deputy governor, 3,065 graduates transitioned into the labour market during a joint graduation ceremony held in March, with some already contributing to flagship projects such as the Affordable Housing Programme.
Dr Owili reminded the newly recruited teachers and trainers that public service is both an honour and a sacred trust.
“You are joining a profession that shapes minds, moulds character, nurtures talent and inspires dreams,” he said.
He emphasized that educators are not merely government employees but custodians of hope, mentors, role models, protectors and guides.
The deputy governor noted that the recruits are joining the service at a time when Kisumu County is implementing its comprehensive Child Protection Policy.
“Young minds placed under your custody are innocent, highly impressionable and infinitely valuable. You are being entrusted with a sacred duty to guard, protect and nurture our most precious resource, the children and youth of Kisumu,” he said.
He called for strict adherence to Chapter Six of the Constitution on Leadership and Integrity and urged the educators to safeguard instructional materials, public resources and learning environments with transparency and accountability.
Dr Owili said the induction of 120 ECDE teachers and 25 VTC trainers demonstrates the county government’s commitment to human capital development.
When the current administration assumed office in 2017, strengthening foundational learning was identified as a key priority.
He noted that 650 ECDE teachers who had been employed on contract terms were converted to permanent and pensionable terms in 2022.
Last year, the county recruited an additional 100 ECDE teachers. The latest recruitment of 120 teachers brings the total ECDE teaching workforce in Kisumu County to 888.
Investment
The county government has continued to invest in educational infrastructure through county funding and support from development partners.
More than 350 ECDE classrooms, sanitation facilities and play equipment have been constructed across the county.
Model centres of excellence, including Canon Nyong’o ECDE Centre of Excellence in Seme and Obwolo ECDE Centre in Kisumu East, have also been established.
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To support effective teaching and learning, the county allocates approximately KSh20 million annually for the procurement of learning materials, including textbooks, exercise books, crayons, pencils and other instructional resources.
In partnership with EIDU Limited, the county has also launched Phase One of the Tayari Digital Learning Programme, introducing learners to structured digital content through tablets and mobile-enabled learning systems.
Partnerships driving transformation
Dr Owili acknowledged the contribution of development partners supporting ECDE programmes in Kisumu County, including Play Action International, UNICEF, Uthabiti Kidogo, World Vision, Cheshire Disability Services, KMET, SOS Children’s Villages, Soma Sawa Africa, ADS Nyanza and Pamoja CBO.
He said partnerships have helped sustain the county’s school feeding programme through the supply of rice and cooking oil to ECDE centres.
According to the deputy governor, the programme has significantly improved enrolment, attendance, retention and completion rates, particularly among vulnerable learners from food-insecure households.
Growth in vocational education
The county has expanded the number of vocational training centres from 20 in 2018 to 28 currently, with a target of 32 centres by 2027.
The enactment of the Kisumu County Vocational Education and Training Act, 2023, together with the VET Regulations, 2026, has strengthened governance, quality assurance and management within the sector.
Dr Owili said the county remains committed to building a skilled workforce capable of driving economic transformation and supporting sustainable development.
By Fredrick Odiero
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