- Bandari Maritime Academy and the Kenya Maritime Authority have launched a Recognition of Prior Learning programme for coxswains on Lake Victoria.
- More than 250 coxswains are expected to be assessed under the pilot certification exercise.
- The initiative aims to improve maritime safety, professional standards and employment opportunities in the blue economy.
Bandari Maritime Academy (BMA), in partnership with the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), has launched a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) certification programme targeting more than 250 coxswains operating on Lake Victoria.
The pilot initiative aims to improve safety standards, strengthen professionalism in inland water transport and enhance skills development and employment opportunities for young people.
Speaking during the assessment exercise in Kisumu County, BMA Senior Principal Trainer I (Nautical Science), Maj. (Rtd) Franklyne Toniok, said the programme is designed to assess individuals who possess practical maritime skills but lack formal qualifications.
Maj. Toniok, who represented BMA Chief Executive Officer Dr Eric Katana, said successful candidates will qualify for certification as Coxswain Grade III operators.
He noted that the exercise had attracted coxswains from Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori and Siaya counties as part of efforts to establish a broader certification programme for operators across the Greater Lakes Region.
“By the end of the second day, we had assessed more than 150 coxswains against a target of 250. This demonstrates the strong response from industry players and places us on course to achieve our target by Friday,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the academy would meet and possibly surpass its target as it works to increase the pool of qualified personnel required to support Kenya’s growing maritime and blue economy sectors.
Enhancing safety and employability
Toniok observed that many coxswains operating on Lake Victoria possess valuable practical experience but lack formal certification.
He described the Recognition of Prior Learning framework as an important pathway for career progression.
“Recognition of Prior Learning gives practitioners an opportunity to have their skills formally assessed and recognized. This not only improves their employability but also contributes to safer navigation and better service delivery within the maritime sector,” he said.
Successful candidates will be recommended to the Kenya Maritime Authority for certification, enabling them to meet industry standards and access wider employment opportunities within Kenya’s maritime and blue economy sectors.
Expanding partnerships
BMA has partnered with Kisumu Maritime Centre (KMC) and several TVET institutions and universities, including:
- Ahero Vocational Training Centre
- Kenya Coast National Polytechnic
- Kenya Utalii College
- Technical University of Mombasa
- Tinderet Integrated Technical Training College
- Bumbe National Polytechnic
- St Joseph Technical Institute for the Deaf, Nyang’oma
The partnerships are intended to strengthen safety standards, improve competency and introduce graduates from diverse technical backgrounds to maritime careers.
The RPL programme comes as the government intensifies efforts to improve safety on inland waterways while unlocking the economic potential of Lake Victoria through a skilled and certified maritime workforce.
Industry stakeholders have welcomed the initiative, describing it as a major step towards professionalizing coxswain operations and strengthening compliance with maritime safety regulations.
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The pilot programme is expected to provide a model for future large-scale certification exercises targeting maritime personnel across Kenya’s inland water transport network.
Courses offered under the RPL programme
The Recognition of Prior Learning programme currently offers certification in several areas, including:
- Coxswain Grade III
- Forklift Operations
- Clearing and Forwarding
- Terminal Tractor Operations
- Cargo Documentation
- Lifeguard Training
- Gantry Crane Operations
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- Firefighting and First Aid
- Warehouse and Stores Management
- Rescue Boat and Survival Techniques
By Fredrick Odiero
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