Igembe North Member of Parliament, Julius Taitumu, has called upon the residents of Igembe to embrace technical courses offered in local technical and vocational colleges to acquire skills required for employment in both private and public sector.
The MP made a clarion call during a career day held at Kaelo Technical and Vocational College in Igembe North.
Taitumu urged youths and form four leavers who received their results Friday to enrol in various technical courses to bridge the gap for technical skills in the country.
“I humbly request youths who do not have grades to qualify for university training as well as those who qualify for university to embrace technical skills to be equipped with knowledge and skills that will make them more marketable.
He noted that TVET courses are very marketable and relevant since the trainees can create their own jobs rather than relying on white collar jobs which have become scarce.
Taitumu said that if the young generation embraces technical skills both economic and social growth will be steered up.
He further observed that the government is committed to establishing TVET institutions all over the country to increase opportunities for the young generation to acquire technical skills.
The MP maintained that manufacturing being one of the previous regime’s big four agenda, youths should be at peak in embracing the skills needed in the field to curb the high rates of unemployment experienced in the country.
He added that the cost of TVET institution is favourable where each learner is supposed to pay Sh54,400 annually with each getting HELB bursary of 30,000 from Constituency Development Funds and county government bursaries.
“If youths invest in technical and vocational training the level of poverty will also go down since they will acquire requisite skills in the labour market and become self-reliant,” he said.
The MP further advised the youths to embrace various online jobs as an alternative hustle.
The principal of Kaelo Technical and Vocational College, Mde. Cecilia Mwongera said that the institution was officially established in September 2019 where it began with only 90 students but currently she added that the number has since increased to 390.
She maintained that the institution is committed to equip learners with adequate and appropriate skills to meet the diverse needs in the manufacturing and technical field.
Mwongera noted that the institution is offering building and civil engineering courses, mechanical engineering, electrical and electronics, business, clothing and designs.
She called upon the government to install more computers and Wi-Fi in the institution to help learners in research as well as facilitate access to online classes and discussions.
By Kamanja Maeria and Sharon Gakii
