By Our Reporter
Students graduating from technical and vocational centers will greatly contribute in realisation of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s ‘Big Four Agenda’ on housing.
Nyeri chairman for Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Joseph Machira said the county should invest heavily on technical education.
Recently, the County Government of Nyeri signed a memorandum of understanding with the national government that will see about 2,000 housing units constructed in the county. The County Government will provide land.
“Those houses that will be built here will need masons, electricians and plumbers among others and it will be very shameful if those people will come from other counties,” said Machira.
He expressed fear that the county could face shortage of people with technical expertise and called on the county government to set aside more bursary funds to promote vocational training education.
Machira, who is also the chairman of the county bursary fund committee, said there is need for the county to increase allocation of bursary funds from Sh40 million to Sh100 million to pay bursary for learners in vocational training institutions.
He said students who sat for their KCSE exam but never made it to university should join vocational institutes.
Nyeri government reduced bursary funds from Sh100 million in previous three years to Sh40 million this year. The bursary never catered for learners in vocational centers.
Machira urged the county government to consider vocational centers in the next financial year. Governor Mutahi Kahiga said recently that the bursary fund will be increased to Sh100 million.
