The Railway Training Institute (RTI) on July 9, 2026, held its 62nd graduation ceremony for 1,135 students who completed various certificate and diploma programs, as the institution simultaneously marked 70 years since its founding.
RTI Chairperson of the Board of Governors Mercy Cherongis congratulated the graduating class on their achievement. “Your dedication, resilience and determination have brought you to this important achievement.” She added that the graduates had gained more than technical skills, having also picked up the discipline, professionalism and values needed to contribute meaningfully to the country’s development.
RTI Director Asava Kadima told the graduates they had grown through the rigours of their training, arriving at the institution with ambition and leaving with character. He described their certificates and diplomas as more than academic credentials, framing them as a form of trust between the graduates and the society that awaited their contribution.
Kenya Railways Board Chairman Abdi Bare Duale reflected on the institute’s long relationship with the Corporation, noting that the histories of the two institutions were closely intertwined. He said RTI had for years served as the Corporation’s primary training ground, shaping the operational excellence, safety, innovation and service delivery seen across the railway sector.
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Principal Secretary (PS) for the State Department for Transport Mohamed Daghar tied the graduation to the government’s economic priorities, saying the strength of the economy depended on the quality of the workforce. He linked this to the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), saying Kenya needed graduates equipped with practical skills, technical competence, creativity and an entrepreneurial mindset to compete in a technology-driven global economy.
RTI operates as a technical and vocational institution owned by Kenya Railways, with campuses in Nairobi and Kisumu. It offers technical and vocational courses in civil, mechanical and electrical engineering, alongside business-related programs, at higher diploma, diploma and certificate levels under the TVET Act 2013. The institute has been recognised as a Centre of Excellence by East African heads of state and government, and a majority of Kenya Railways’ current operations staff are trained there.
By Benedict Aoya
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