Gov't urges graduates to become job creators as 1,022 graduate from Kaimosi Poly

Vihiga County Deputy Governor Wilberforce Kitiezo has challenged technical and vocational graduates to move away from completing training only to look for salaried jobs, and to become job creators, innovators and problem solvers.

He spoke at the 7th Graduation Ceremony of Kaimosi Friends National Polytechnic (Main Campus), where 1,022 graduands received qualifications across different levels of technical and vocational education and training (TVET). Among them were 24 practitioners recognised through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) framework, which allows people to obtain formal certification for competencies gained through workplace experience, informal training and other non-traditional routes.

Mr Kitiezo said TVET institutions should produce graduates who can spot opportunities in their communities and turn them into viable ventures. He urged the graduates not to wait for perfect conditions before using their skills, but to start with available resources, build on their competencies and keep improving their products and services. The future, he said, belongs to people who can adapt to changing circumstances, innovate and persevere despite challenges.

The polytechnic showcased its Income Generating Activities (IGAs) at the ceremony. They included high-quality handwash and bakery products such as biscuits and value-added bread made from locally available ingredients, including groundnuts, sesame seeds (simsim) and carrots.

The institution was encouraged to explore ways of scaling up production, strengthening product quality and establishing supply arrangements with supermarkets and other retailers across the country.

Graduates were challenged to embrace entrepreneurship, use the competencies gained during training and identify opportunities in the changing economic environment. The message was that responsibility for producing competitive graduates cannot rest on learners alone. TVET institutions must keep aligning their programmes with the changing needs of industry, new technologies and labour-market demands, and partnerships with industry can expose learners to production environments and workplace expectations before they finish their studies.

The recognition of 24 practitioners through the RPL framework was another feature of the ceremony. RPL bridges informal skills acquisition and formal certification, allowing experienced practitioners to have their competencies assessed and recognised. Formal recognition can improve their access to employment, business opportunities, further training and professional advancement, and reinforces the principle that competence should be recognised whatever the pathway through which it was acquired.