State Department for Technical, Vocational Education & Training.

Strengthening the regulatory space remains central to delivering quality, relevance and accountability in Technical, Vocational Education and Training, and to ensuring that Government commitments on skills development, employability and institutional performance translate into measurable results.

During the last day of the 3rd Annual Regulatory Authorities and Agencies Conference 2026, Dr. Alice Kande, Director General of the Kenya National Qualifications Authority-KNQA, addressed the need to strengthen regulatory control systems, improve performance tracking and advance progressive regulatory practices across public institutions. She further emphasised the need for strengthened institutional collaboration which is critical for effective and impactful service delivery.

In a related session, the Acting Director General of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA), Timothy Katiambo, noted that despite the growth in registered TVET institutions to 3,127, TVETA continues to strengthen regulatory systems to safeguard standards, improve compliance and enhance training outcomes. He also highlighted expanded global engagement, with 20 foreign institutions now registered under TVETA, reflecting growing international collaboration in skills development.
He noted that expansion must be matched with quality, coordination and accountability. A stronger and harmonized regulatory ecosystem is essential in building public trust, improving institutional performance and ensuring that Technical, Vocational Education and Training remains responsive to industry needs, national development priorities and global competitiveness.

Further, TVETA committed to more stakeholder engagement and strengthening institution based quality assurance.

Ultimately, regulation must not only control systems; it must improve results and impact society. For TVET, this means credible institutions, trusted qualifications, industry-ready trainees and a skills ecosystem that delivers jobs, productivity and inclusive national transformation.
Tvet Authority Kenya Page

The Principal Secretary, State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), today addressed stakeholders during the High-Level Public–Private Dialogue on Skills, Jobs and Competitiveness in Kenya’s Coast Region, organized by GIZ Kenya, where she reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to positioning TVET as a direct pathway to employment, enterprise development and national competitiveness.

The dialogue focused on strengthening linkages between training and industry opportunities within the blue economy, tourism, logistics, manufacturing and agribusiness sectors. The PS noted that the ongoing implementation of Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) continues to enhance practical skills development, improve industry relevance and support the continuous review of curricula to align with evolving labour market needs.

She emphasized that the success of training must ultimately be reflected in employment creation, enterprise growth, productivity and production. Through CBET and the Dual TVET training model, the sector is expanding work-based learning, strengthening industry participation and enhancing practical competence among trainees.

The PS commended GIZ Kenya for convening the dialogue and for supporting initiatives that promote skills development, youth employability and stronger collaboration between training institutions and industry. She also appreciated industry partners for their continued collaboration and called for deeper engagement with TVET institutions through curriculum support, workplace placement, mentorship, co-training and the productive utilization of modern training equipment.

She underscored that the desired outcome remains clear: developing a skilled workforce connected to jobs, enterprises and sustainable opportunities that improve livelihoods and expand access to decent work for young people across the country.

The Principal Secretary, State Department for TVET, joined the Deputy President, H.E. Prof. Kithure Kindiki, Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Mr. Felix Koskei, colleague Principal Secretaries and other leaders at the 3rd Annual Regulatory Authorities and Agencies Conference held at South Eastern Kenya University, Kitui.

The Conference theme, “Consistent Measurement and Evaluation of Real Regulatory Impact on the Ground,” is a strong reminder that regulation must move from reporting to delivery, from intention to measurable outcomes and from compliance alone to real public value. Regulatory agencies must reduce risks, improve outcomes, promote visibility, maintain clean and accountable systems and deliver more responsive, service-centred regulation.

For the TVET sector, this message is timely and relevant. Through agencies such as TVET Authority, KNQA and TVET CDACC, regulation must directly safeguard quality training, credible assessment, trusted qualifications and industry-aligned skills that translate into employability, productivity and national transformation.

Effective regulation is not an end in itself; it is a tool for translating national commitments into tangible impact, accountability and socio-economic progress.

This Labour Day, we celebrate more than work; we celebrate skill, resilience and the spirit of building a better nation.
Through TVET, we empower hands with purpose and minds with opportunity.
To every artisan, technician and innovator; your work drives progress.
Happy Labour Day.

The Principal Secretary, State Department for TVET was honoured by the presence of the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Hon. Julius Migos Ogamba, whose leadership continues to strengthen the education sector. In his address, the Cabinet Secretary underscored the need to integrate rapid technological change into training, strengthen continuous professional development and position education and training as a strategic investment that demands purpose, discipline and measurable returns.
The PS emphasized that TVET has transitioned from policy design to decisive implementation. Institutions are now expected to strengthen accountability, comply fully with legal and fiduciary frameworks, optimize the use of financial and physical resources and uphold the highest standards of integrity in training and assessment.
Significant investments have already been made in capacity building, curriculum reform and industry alignment. The focus now shifts to deliberate, consistent and results-driven ex*****on for the benefit of trainees, industry and the nation.

The State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) continues to advance policy frameworks that respond to the evolving demands of the labour market. As industries undergo rapid transformation, there is a growing need for training systems that are flexible, responsive and aligned with emerging technologies.

In this regard, the development of the National Micro-Credentials Framework marks a significant milestone in strengthening skills development across the sector. The framework will facilitate the structured rollout and adoption of micro-credentials, enabling certificate, diploma and degree holders to acquire targeted, industry-relevant competencies without the need to restart full training programmes.

Micro-credentials are expected to enhance specialization, improve workforce productivity and support continuous upskilling in line with workplace demands. For the TVET sector, this initiative reinforces the delivery of competency-based training anchored on quality, standardization, recognition and alignment with the Kenya National Qualifications Framework.

This was the key message delivered by the Principal Secretary, State Department for TVET, during an engagement with the technical team spearheading the development of the framework, led by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority-KNQA, at the Rift Valley National Polytechnic in Nakuru. The initiative underscores the Government’s commitment to building a workforce that remains competitive, adaptable and responsive to industry needs.
PS Tvet Esther Muoria
The Rift Valley National Polytechnic

Representing the Principal Secretary for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Dr. Esther Muoria, Mary Koigi, Coordinator for Industrial Linkages, dual Training and Labour Mobility, participated in a strategic breakfast meeting convened by AHK Services Eastern Africa to advance dialogue on strengthening Kenya’s skills development ecosystem.

In her remarks, she highlighted ongoing reforms anchored on Competency Based Education and Training (CBET), noting the critical role of the Dual TVET model in better aligning training outcomes with the evolving needs of industry.

She emphasized the importance of private sector engagement, calling for deeper and more structured collaboration across the entire training value chain to support a demand driven skills system.

Mary Koigi also reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening policy, financing and institutional frameworks aimed at scaling work based learning and positioning Kenya as a competitive hub for skilled human capital.
AHK Eastern Africa

The Principal Secretary, State Department for TVET, delivered a keynote address at the 7th Engineering Partnership (EPIC) Convention 2026 held in Mombasa under the theme “Blueprint for Prosperity: Engineering a Sustainable Blue Economy.”
The Convention was graced by the Chief Guest, David Chirchir, EGH, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Roads and Transport, who was represented by Eng. Joseph Mbugua, CBS, Principal Secretary, State Department for Roads.
The Principal Secretary joined fellow Principal Secretaries, including Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno of the State Department for Environment and Eng. Aden Abdi Millah of the State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs, alongside stakeholders from the engineering and skills development sectors.
In her address, the Principal Secretary challenged engineers and TVET stakeholders to fully leverage their knowledge, skills and innovation to drive national productivity. She emphasized the critical role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training in building a competent workforce capable of delivering practical, homegrown engineering solutions.
She underscored the need to build confidence in local technical capacity, noting that Kenya possesses the human capital required to design and implement solutions without overreliance on external expertise. She called for stronger collaboration between industry and TVET institutions to ensure training remains responsive to emerging economic sectors, including the blue economy.
Further, she emphasized the urgency of shifting from import dependency to local production by positioning TVET institutions as centers of innovation, manufacturing and applied research. She noted that strengthening local production will not only enhance economic resilience but also create employment opportunities and support Kenya’s transition to a sustainable, self-reliant economy.
PS Tvet Esther Muoria

The Principal Secretary, State Department for TVET was honored to engage the TVET fraternity and Public Service Commission during the entry meeting on the development of HR instruments for the TVET institutions.
The focus is a structured HR framework defining career entry, progression, specialization and leadership pathways across institutions.
The instruments will be standardized and responsive to institutional realities, strengthening governance and workforce planning. This is a strategic reform aimed at professionalizing the sector and improving delivery outcomes.

With clear deliverables and firm timelines, implementation discipline remains critical. The objective is a future-ready TVET system driven by competent personnel, strong institutions and measurable performance, positioning TVET as a central driver of skills and national transformation.