Post Skills Development department, which has been under the Ministry of Education, was today handed over to the Ministry of Labour.
The transfer of the department follows successful agreements between the two-line ministries and the Executive Order Number One of 2022 issued by President William Ruto three months ago.
Speaking during the handing over ceremony, outgoing State Department of Post Training and Skill Development Principal Secretary (PS) Alfred Cheruiyot congratulated the newly appointed Labor and Skills Development PS Geoffrey Kaituko and commended the post training team for their team work.
Cheruiyot praised the hard work that has been exhibited by the team which never compromised any standards and ensured prudent resources utilization.
“The mandate that is given at post training requires a lot of interpretation because you may find many functions could be overlapping or similar to the functions bestowed to other state departments,” said Cheruiyot.
The outgoing PS explained that the department has been placed under the Ministry of Labour to facilitate further growth and ensure timely implementation of outlined mandate and programs.
“I feel honored that I am handing over the state department at a stage where we have a report which we have prepared and I am sure you will go through the report and look at the functions of what we have been doing,” said Cheruiyot.
The post training, Cheruiyot stated, has a greater capacity as a result of the partnership between National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) and Labour department since the two governance units are undertaking similar activities.
In his remarks, PS Kaituko acknowledged the former PS and his team for accepting to grace the handing over ceremony saying the same demonstrates good working relationships within various government circles.
“The handing over is based on the Executive Order Number One of 2022 which has brought the functions of the post skills and development department to Labour away from the Ministry of Education, for it has become a major component in the Ministry of labour,” said Mr. Kaituko.
He stated the President has a lot of interest with the labour department owing to the government’s inspirations to develop the skills in youth as part of strengthening their capacity to fit well in the job market.
“We are going to work and ensure that this department of skills development is given much attention in terms of ensuring labour skills are well attained and the same well applied to develop the economy. All the activities to be planned under the department will be implemented accordingly with a view to realizing the outlined agenda and thus benefit Kenyans especially the youths,” he added.
He welcomed the post training team to the Ministry of Labor and encouraged them to implement the cross-pollination of ideas to help in the growth of the department.
By Edna Okoth
