- Trans Nzoia County is set to open the region’s first specialised Vocational Training Centre for persons living with visual impairment.
- The facility is expected to admit its first trainees in September and will offer market-driven vocational skills.
- County officials say the project will expand access to inclusive education, employment and economic empowerment.
The Trans Nzoia County Government is set to establish the region’s first specialised Vocational Training Centre (VTC) for persons living with visual impairment, in a landmark initiative aimed at expanding access to education, vocational skills and economic empowerment for one of the country’s most underserved groups.
The county government, working in partnership with development organisations and private sector stakeholders, announced that the facility is nearing completion and is expected to admit its first cohort of trainees in September.
Speaking during a two-day sensitisation workshop that brought together more than 50 girls and women living with visual impairment, Trans Nzoia County Director of Vocational Training Centres Eliud Lusweti described the project as a major milestone in promoting inclusion and equal opportunities.
“For a long time, our visually impaired brothers and sisters have been left behind. It is our responsibility to ensure they live with dignity by giving them access to quality education, vocational training and employment opportunities,” said Lusweti.
He said the institution will equip learners with practical and marketable skills, including computer literacy, tailoring, sweater knitting, shoe making and other income-generating trades to enable them to become economically independent.
Lusweti disclosed that the County Department of Education and Vocational Training had already secured land for the project, while development partners including Safaricom Foundation, Salus Okuli Kenya, Step International, the German Government and other local and international donors have financed the construction and equipping of the institution.
Modern facilities and specialised equipment
The facility will include modern classrooms, hostels, a dining hall, a bakery and other essential amenities designed to provide a conducive learning environment for learners with visual impairment.
Lusweti said the centre has already received assistive technologies such as Braille machines and specialised computers, with additional equipment expected from Tools to Work Organisation.
“We are almost completing the project and we are looking forward to commencing training in September. Although the institution is located in Trans Nzoia, it is intended to serve learners from across the region,” he said.
He also commended development partners for providing financial support, technical expertise and specialised equipment that will enhance training and improve learning outcomes.
Representing Mitoto Vocational Training Centre, Richard Ayodi welcomed the progress made but appealed to the county government to recruit and deploy more instructors to match the expanded infrastructure.
“Partners have done a commendable job by constructing classrooms and hostels, but we now require more trainers to adequately serve the growing number of learners who will enrol,” Ayodi said.
He also urged the county administration to introduce scholarships and capitation support for visually impaired students, noting that many come from economically disadvantaged families.
“This will be the first institution of its kind in the region. We encourage parents and guardians to enrol their children so they can acquire skills that will enable them to lead productive and independent lives,” he added.
Empowering learners beyond the classroom
Beyond vocational skills, the workshop focused on empowering participants with knowledge on human rights and personal protection.
Facilitators Rose Musanga and Anne Mutungi conducted sessions on gender-based violence, abuse prevention, legal rights and safeguarding, encouraging participants to recognise and report abuse while protecting themselves from exploitation.
Speaking on behalf of Salus Okuli Kenya, Tom Ng’eno said the sensitisation programme forms part of the organisation’s broader strategy of identifying and supporting children and young people living with visual impairment across Trans Nzoia County and the wider region.
He said the initiative seeks to ensure that no child with visual impairment is denied access to education because of inadequate information, limited resources or a lack of appropriate learning facilities.
Ng’eno added that through collaboration with county governments and development partners, the organisation hopes to increase school enrolment among visually impaired learners while improving access to specialised vocational education.
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The establishment of the specialised vocational training centre is expected to transform the lives of persons living with visual impairment by providing practical skills, assistive technologies and a supportive learning environment while reinforcing Trans Nzoia County’s commitment to inclusive education and equal opportunities for all.
By Godfrey Wamalwa
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