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By Tindi Kuchio
Bunyala Technical and Vocational College(TVC) located in Budebu village of Budalang’i Constituency in Busia County, has established a reputation as a centre of excellence in Agriculture since its inception a couple of years ago.
Speaking to Education News in his office, the institution’s Principal Emmanuel Wamalwa said the training facility had received state-of-the-art training equipment in Agriculture from Avic International in China, courtesy of the Kenyan-Chinese partnership programme.
“We received modern training equipment in Agriculture worth almost Shs 100 million. The farm machinery equipment ranges from tractors to accompanying farm implements like rotators, specialized ploughs, corn harvesters and many more,” confirmed Wamalwa.
He revealed that the institution had also received lathe, milling and injector tester machines as well as engine models and live engines for the Mechanical and Automotive Engineering department.
Other training facilities at the institution include bending machine, live CI engines, drilling machine, arc welding machine, oxy-acetylene set.
Wamalwa said that the institution has an equipped computer laboratory with has internet connectivity.
“We are in the process of connecting the institution to fibre-optic network. We also intend to fully equip Building & Civil Engineering and Electrical & Electronics Engineering departments,” stated Wamalwa.
He noted that the institution has adequate books for reference and qualified trainers in the area of Business and Social Sciences and added that plans are underway to upgrade training equipment in the area of industrial management so that the institution’s courses are more competitive.
Wamalwa revealed that plans were also on course to construct a modern kitchen at the institution with the financial support from the Budalang’i Constituency Development Fund.
“We intend to construct a workshop for Building & Civil Engineering and additional ablution facilities and lecture rooms by June next year. Solar panels will also be installed to enable us have alternative sources of power,” said the college head.
He confirmed that the institution currently sits on a five-acre piece of land and plans were afoot to acquire additional five acres for future expansion.
The institution has been performing well in the national examinations especially in Institutional Management and Social Sciences.
Other than academics, it also performs well in extra curriculum activities as it is the reigning national champions in ladies’ volleyball after emerging the winners in the games that took place at the Nyeri National Polytechnic.
The men’s football team reached the quarter finals at the regional level in the games held at Mawego Technical Training Institute in Homa Bay County.
In athletics, both the ladies and men’s teams reached the national level in a major racing contest that was hosted at Kisii National Polytechnic.
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the institution has built an access road currently being used by the community. Plans are also underway to drill water for the institution and the neighbouring community.
The training facility has been involved in farm machinery operations like ploughing and grass cutting in Busia and other neighbouring counties like Bungoma and Siaya to generate income.
The college water bowser services have also been hired to mitigate water shortage in the community especially during major events.
Bunyala TVC was established in October 2017 as part of the government initiative to create at least one Technical and Vocational College in every constituency in the country.
The college was among the first 60 Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) institutions to be built under the government initiative.
It officially started its operations in January 2018 and admitted its first cohort of 55 trainees in May 2018.
It is located along the Bumala – Port Victoria road, about 4 km from Budalang’i market and 7km from Port Victoria. It has a student population of 730 with 41 teaching staff and 16 non-teaching staff.
