County governments within the Lake Region Economic Bloc(LREB) are now realigning themselves towards adopting technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in order to become industrial hubs.
This emerged during a Business Ecosystem Summit in Kisumu where county governments resolved to be catalysts in industrializing their zones as areas of economic growth.
Kisii Governor Simba Arati who set the ball rolling said it was time devolved units plunged into adopting TVETS as a means of economic takeoffs and spurring growth.
Arati said technical training has for a long time been ignored in favour of degree courses which he noted are basically theoretical.
The Governor indicated that county governments should harness more resources towards improving vocational training.
Arati said students who are TVET-oriented are capable of depending on themselves in addition to employing other people in society.
He said his administration is now partnering with key players in order to link students to industries in order to arm them with skills.
Arati’s stand appears to be in tandem with the government’s policy of linking TVET students to industries.
The stand was stated in Kisumu recently during a training of TVET heads.
The Principal Secretary for TVETS Dr. Esther Muoria outlined that the government is keen on sending graduates to industries in order for them to be armed with the requisite skills,
The executive committee member in charge of ICT and education in Kisumu County John Awiti said all vocational training facilities in the area have been fitted with the required hardware.
Awiti said that they are now working on software in the same institutions.
He said they also have plans to retrain trainers in order for them to adapt to CBET.
Earlier a number of governors called for the construction of industrial parks in the lake region economic growth.
Anyang Nyong’o (Kisumu), James Orengo (Siaya) Ken Lusaka (Bungoma), Amos Nyaribo (Nyamira), Wilbur Otichilo (Vihiga) and Simba Arati (Kisii) called for the unlocking of economic potential in LREB counties.
Finance Cabinet Secretary Professor Njuguna Ndung’u said counties should create policies that promote economic growth in their respective areas.
He said counties possess comparative advantages and are in line with the government’s bottom-up approach economic module.
Nyong’o who was the host assured that they are committed to nurturing an environment where public and private entities can co-create solutions, leverage each other’s strengths, and ultimately drive holistic growth.
Lusaka said counties must invest in industrial parks since it is the home of innovation and job creation for the thousands of youths in the country.
Otichilo said business ecosystems revolve around innovations and a conducive business atmosphere.
By Fredrick Odiero
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