As the Technical Vocational and Education Training Institutions (TVETs) across the country mark a century of their existence in Kenya, Uasin Gishu Deputy Governor Eng. John Barorot has challenged the heads of the institutions to come up with proper structures to introduce Information Technology (IT) as a service course to enable graduates to become innovative to solve societal problems when they come out.
Speaking during the Centenary celebrations for TVETs in Uasin Gishu County at the County Headquarters, Eldoret town, Barorot indicated that IT skills are key as the world is undergoing digital transformation.
Thus, the deputy governor emphasized the strong human resources and work ethics in Kenya, stating that the country needs to enhance its skills to move forward.
Further on, the Deputy Governor encouraged TVETs to introduce IT as a service course to prepare graduates for the digital transformation world.
This will equip graduates with the necessary skills for various professions, such as tailoring and masonry, making them more relevant in today’s digital world.
Eng. Barorot hinted that the IT skills are crucial in case TVET graduates manage to secure a key management position in an MSME and one will be required to have a know-how of these IT skills, hence the need to provide the skills at a very early stage.
The Deputy Governor praised TVETs for providing skilled-middle class resources, aligning with Kenya Kwanza government’s strategy to transform livelihoods by focusing on manufacturing.
“Technical training is a passionate approach addressing middle class issues, focusing on manufacturing and reducing imports. Kenya’s Kwanza government strategy emphasizes TVETs as institutions providing skilled human resources.” said Eng. Barorot.
However, he challenged the principals of the technical institutions to become agents of change, to listen to what the industry requires and what we require today as a nation in terms of the human resources in order to ensure the curriculum aligns with the industry needs.
Noting that the national government and the county are constructing County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) together with Export Processing Zones (EPZs), Eng. Barorot called the technical Institutions produce skilled and innovative resources that can help in value creation of the farm produce so that the country would not be exporting raw materials anyway but as semi-finished agricultural products through our CAIPs.
“The government will market products and engage farmers, but value addition is crucial. Technical institutions can provide innovation and solve societal problems, enabling progress in communities and advancing society,” alluded the Deputy Governor.
For instance, the government is investing Sh 250 million in Agricultural Mechanization Services (AMS) in Moiben Sub County, with the national government matching the amount to create an industrial park, aiming for value addition.
Hence, He assured the public of employment opportunities for skilled human resources in the city through the various construction projects like the Ultramodern market, CAIPs, EPZ, Affordable Housing all of which require a lot of resources, especially skilled human resources.
“Kenya is really endowed with very good resources. We just need to see how to convert it and see ourselves taking a country into the next step in terms of economic perspective,” noted Eng. Barorot.
By Ekuwam Sylvester
