Nairobi: The government has urged Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to ensure their programs remain aligned with industry needs and emerging labor-market trends, warning that expanding access to education without improving employability will not deliver sustainable economic impact. Speaking at the Nation Media 18th Higher Education Fair and Skills Expo 2026, Principal Secretary for TVET, Dr. Esther Thaara Muoria, emphasized the importance of skills-based, industry-driven training to prepare graduates for both domestic and international job markets.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. Muoria quoted President William Ruto, stating, "If education is the key, then TVET is the master key, because it converts knowledge into practical skills, productivity, and economic opportunity." She highlighted that the power of education in the modern economy depends not only on access but also on its relevance to real-world work environments. Dr. Muoria described the Expo as "a national conversation about relevance," aimed at aligning education systems with technological change, industry trends, and the evolving future of work.
The Principal Secretary noted significant gains in strengthening Kenya's TVET sector, with enrolment growing from approximately 350,000 trainees in 2022 to about 900,000 today. She attributed this growth to reforms such as modularized training, flexible entry pathways, and the Recognition of Prior Learning framework, allowing youth, artisans, and working adults to enter formal certification pathways based on demonstrated competencies. Dr. Muoria also cited innovative outreach programs designed to expand inclusion, such as Ujuzi Manyattani for pastoralist communities and initiatives supporting the reintegration of reformed bandits into productive employment and enterprise.
On training quality, Dr. Muoria assured that the government has strengthened standards through the full rollout of Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET), focusing on demonstrable skills rather than classroom time. Investments in modern, industry-relevant equipment and reformed assessment systems are designed to ensure integrity, quality assurance, and real workplace productivity. She cautioned that "access without relevance is incomplete, equity without employability is unsustainable, and quality without strong alignment to industry demand is insufficient."
Dr. Muoria challenged TVET institutions to prepare graduates for both current and emerging job markets, citing global labor trends showing growing demand in digital technologies, advanced manufacturing, infrastructure development, healthcare, and the green economy. According to the Principal Secretary, these global shifts present significant opportunities for Kenya, as many countries face shortages of skilled technicians, artisans, and technologists. She emphasized the need for TVET to produce globally competitive skills, preparing Kenyan youth for local, regional, and international employment.
Highlighting partnerships that allow Kenyan agriculture trainees to participate in seasonal work programs in the United Kingdom through organizations like HOPS Labour Solutions, Dr. Muoria noted that more than 3,000 trainees have benefited. These programs expose trainees to advanced farming technologies, modern production standards, and global agricultural practices, with returning participants strengthening local productivity and agribusiness innovation. She emphasized viewing labor mobility as an opportunity for skills exchange and brain gain, rather than brain drain.
Reaffirming President Ruto's vision that Kenya's transition to a first-world economy depends on skills, creativity, and innovation, Dr. Muoria stated that these qualities mature best within real production environments. "Industry is where skills are validated, where creativity is tested against real problems, and where innovation is converted into economic value," she said. She added that meaningful engagement between institutions and industry is essential for education to deliver productivity, employability, and national prosperity.
Dr. Muoria noted that TVET institutions are increasingly shifting from classroom-based instruction to production-anchored learning, with campuses establishing industry-like production units in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, hospitality, automotive, ICT, and emerging green industries. Through modularized CBET, trainees now learn within real production processes, working with modern equipment, meeting quality standards, adhering to timelines, and responding to actual market demand.
She urged higher education and training institutions to let industry trends guide curriculum design, delivery, and assessment, while calling on private-sector players to engage more actively through curriculum co-development, industrial attachments, mentorship, and skills assessment. Addressing students and parents, Dr. Muoria encouraged prioritizing training pathways that build practical skills, adaptability, and lifelong learning capacity over focusing solely on academic credentials.
Dr. Muoria invited Nation Media Group to partner with the TVET sector in promoting skills excellence, innovation, and opportunities within technical training, suggesting that media visibility can help shift mindsets, attract industry participation, and guide young people toward practical career pathways. She concluded by urging stakeholders to move "from access to impact, from training to relevance, and from education to productive capability" as Kenya strengthens its education and skills systems to support national development.
The Expo brought together leaders from higher education and TVET institutions, industry partners, policymakers, and students to explore strategies for strengthening skills development and aligning education with labor-market and economic priorities.