The Ministry of Education (MoE) through the State Department for Technical, Vocational Education and Training has directed principals of national polytechnics, technical training institutes, and technical and vocational colleges to initiate lawful consequences against all trainers who are not registered and licensed by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) by June 30, 2026.
In a circular dated April 1, 2026, and signed by Principal Secretary Dr. Esther Muoria, the ministry said it had established that several vocational and technical trainers operating in institutions under its purview lacked valid TVETA registration and licensing.
“All trainers without valid TVETA registration and licensing are deemed to be in violation of the TVET Act, Cap 210A, the TVET Regulations, 2015, and the Trainer Qualifications Framework,” the circular stated.
The directive cited Sections 17 and 23 of the TVET Act, Cap 210A, as well as Regulations 13 and 16 of the TVET Regulations, 2015, which require all TVET trainers to be registered and licensed by the authority.
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The circular further directed principals to compile and submit comprehensive data on all trainers, including those in administrative roles, to the ministry by April 30, 2026, using a prescribed Excel template attached to the communication.
The Director of Human Resource Management and Development (HRM&D) and the Secretary of TVETA were also directed to oversee compliance and ensure lawful consequences are applied in all cases of non-compliance, with a comprehensive report to follow upon completion.
Any person who contravenes the provisions of the Act commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one million shillings, imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or both.
The engagement of unregistered trainers has previously been flagged during TVET institutional audits as among recurring compliance failures, alongside financial irregularities and weak internal controls.
By Benedict Aoya
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