Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in the North Rift region have converged in Elgeyo Marakwet County for the North Rift TVET Trade Fair and Innovation Exhibition.
The two-day trade fair aims to promote technical skills, innovation, and entrepreneurship among the youth.
Hosted by Kipsoen National Polytechnic, the event brought together students, trainers, and education stakeholders from 28 institutions across the region to showcase innovations and practical projects in engineering, Information Communication Technology (ICT), agriculture, fashion design, and entrepreneurship.
The exhibition highlighted the growing role of TVET institutions in equipping young people with industry-oriented competencies and supporting the country’s agenda on industrialization, job creation, and self-employment.
Speaking during the exhibition, Elgeyo Marakwet Deputy Governor Grace Cheserek said technical training plays a critical role in driving socio-economic transformation through innovation and practical problem-solving.
“Technical training helps guide the transformation of our country. Trainees from technical institutions are the people who will solve societal challenges through innovation and the skills they acquire,” said Cheserek.
She urged parents to support learners pursuing vocational and technical education, noting that TVET graduates have opportunities for career progression and employment both locally and internationally.
“To the parents, vocational training is not for failures but for students who want to innovate. After completing technical training, learners still have pathways to progress in their careers,” she said.
Cheserek added that the county government was promoting labour mobility programmes such as Kazi Majuu, where graduates from technical institutions stand a better chance of benefiting because of their hands-on skills and competencies.
She further encouraged students to register with the National Employment Authority to access local and international job opportunities.
The Deputy Governor also assured parents that the government had reduced tuition fees in TVET institutions, making technical education more affordable and accessible.
Kipsoen National Polytechnic Principal Joseph Bittok said the trade fair was intended to sensitize communities on the importance of technical education and skills development.
“The objective of the TVET trade fair is transforming tomorrow today through TVET skills. We are offering various courses, and we have 28 institutions from the North Rift region participating in this exhibition,” said Bittok.
He urged students to embrace technical education, saying practical skills would help improve their livelihoods and economic independence.
“The solution to unemployment in our country is for the youth to acquire practical skills such as plumbing, fashion design, hairdressing, and other technical courses that can enable them to employ themselves,” he stated.
Bittok challenged the perception that TVET institutions are meant for academic failures, insisting that technical education is suitable for all learners interested in acquiring employable skills.
“It is not necessary for everyone to join a university. TVET institutions are for everyone willing to acquire skills and knowledge. These institutions are not for failures; they are centres for job creation and innovation,” he added.
Elgeyo Marakwet County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Education and Technical Training Purity Koima said the government was increasingly prioritizing technical and vocational training as a key pillar of economic transformation and youth empowerment.
“Technical skills are very important because once acquired, one can either get employed or become self-employed. Technical institutions are not for failures but for those who want to pursue the technical pathway,” said Koima.
She noted that Elgeyo Marakwet County currently has 18 institutions under the TVET programme and said the county government continues to invest in infrastructure and training programmes to enhance access to skills development.
Bittok also explained that trainees in TVET institutions are currently paying subsidized fees and can benefit from loans offered by the Higher Education Loans Board as well as bursaries provided by both national and county governments.
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The exhibition featured innovative student projects and demonstrations showcasing the practical knowledge and competencies trainees acquire during their studies.
Education stakeholders at the event said strengthening technical education would play a critical role in advancing Kenya’s industrialization agenda, reducing unemployment, and equipping young people with skills relevant to the modern labour market.
By Kimutai Langat
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