The Chief Principal of The Kisumu National Polytechnic, Mrs Catherine Kelonye, has been declared the outstanding National Polytechnics Chief Principal of the Year.
Mrs Kelonye was feted during the Jamhuri Kenya leadership awards under the category of transformational leadership and gender inclusion award in the city.
According to the panel of judges during the occasion, Mrs Catherine Kelonye is a distinguished, visionary, and results-oriented education leader, nationally recognized for her firm and transformative leadership in advancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Kenya, guided by the principles of integrity, accountability, inclusivity, and institutional excellence.
Over the past five years, according to the panellists, she has led transformative institutional reforms that strengthened governance, improved academic quality, expanded access, and ensured the financial sustainability of The Kisumu National Polytechnic.
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Under her leadership, the Polytechnic aligned with The Polytechnic Order 2014, maintained ISO 9001:2015, ISO 27001:2022, and ISO 22301:2019 certifications, and attained Qualification Awarding Institution status from the Kenya National Qualifications Authority.
She oversaw the development and rollout of 118 CBET curricula, increasing enrolment to 11,748 trainees and graduating 10,344 cumulatively over a period of 5 years, including 2103 graduands in 2025; supported by enhanced examination pass rates and digitally mapped industrial attachments, reinforcing transparency, compliance, and institutional competitiveness.
Her prudent financial management enhanced sustainability, expanded investment in infrastructure and ICT, and mobilized over KShs. 2 billion through partnerships with the World Bank, Colleges and Institutes Canada, GIZ, and SIFA.
She established the Centre for Applied Research and Innovation (CARI) and successfully steered the World Bank funded, Eastern Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP) to completion, positioning the institution as a Regional Flagship TVET Institute for Textile Technology positioned and further strengthening the Polytechnic’s research-driven TVET profile, the Polytechnic as a regional flagship in research-driven TVET.
Mrs Kelonye has prioritised staff welfare and capacity building, institutionalised WIBA insurance, AAR medical cover, pension schemes, and unionisation.
She is a strong GEDI champion who has also institutionalised gender mainstreaming, youth empowerment, disability inclusion, and student protection systems, established a daycare serving over 25 children daily, enhancing access and retention for trainee parents.
Through decisive and inclusive leadership, she has positioned The Kisumu National Polytechnic as a model of progressive, accountable, and socially responsive TVET Institution. Her astute financial management earned the polytechnic an impressive unqualified/unmodified opinion by the Auditor General for the fiscal year 2024/2025.
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The transformative leadership exhibited by Mrs. Kelonye has earned the institution notable recognition awards including but not limited to the following: Principal of the Year Awards 2023 at the Uongozi Career Awards by the Corporate Career Academy- Principal of the Year-23rd November 2023; Gold Winner by KE Online Digitally Fit Awards under category: Polytechnic Visionaries Person of the Year creating an impact online-19th July 2024; Best TVET in Equitable Allocation of Opportunities and Resources – DIAR Awards- 2025; Exceptional Performance in Gender mainstreaming Awards by YAWK-30th July 2025; Gender Equality and Disability Inclusion (GEDI) Awards- 18th December 2025; TVET Champion of female inclusion in Dual Training by GIZ-5th February 2026.
Mrs Kelonye expressed delight after the award and vowed to continue mentoring both students and upcoming tutors within the TVET ecosystem.
By Fredrick Odiero
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