Mombasa: The government has launched the Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) National Employment and Careers Summit, a platform aimed at linking young people with industry players, investors, and employers to boost youth employability and entrepreneurship across the country. Speaking during the opening of the summit in Mombasa, Joseph Njau, the Acting Secretary for the TVET, representing the Principal Secretary (PS) for TVET Dr. Esther Muoria, said the initiative is the culmination of months of planning between the government and the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA).
According to Kenya News Agency, the summit seeks to go beyond traditional certification and ensure that training institutions produce graduates who are not only skilled but also employable and ready to create jobs. 'In the past, our training institutions focused mainly on awarding certificates, but now we are taking a step further to engage with the demand side of employment. We are mentoring young people to become entrepreneurs, to start their own businesses, and to access job opportunities,' said Njau.
The summit, which will be held in various regions across the country, aims to give youth opportunities in job creation, job placement, and entrepreneurship. Njau said the program targets to ensure that more young people are gainfully employed, as unemployment remains one of the major challenges affecting the youth in Kenya.
'By the end of this year, we expect more than 600 youths to have secured employment through these engagements. This programme will be continuous and will bring together the youth, employers, and industries to strengthen linkages,' he added. He further revealed that the government, through TVET institutions, is working closely with key investors to connect youth with financiers who are willing to fund bankable business ideas.
The summit has brought together TVET institutions and industry players from across the Coast region, marking what Njau described as a significant milestone in narrowing the gap between academia and industry. 'We are encouraged by the strong participation of institutions and industries from the Coast region. This collaboration shows that the gap between training and industry needs is shrinking by the day,' he said.
KEPSA's Coast Regional Coordinator, Esther Mureithi, said the private sector remains committed to supporting youth employability and innovation, emphasizing that partnerships between industry and TVET institutions are pivotal to addressing skills mismatches. 'Our industries are constantly evolving, and so must our training models. This summit gives us a platform to directly interact with young innovators and future employees, aligning their skills with market needs,' she said.
One of the participants, Amina Mwanyumba, a mechanical engineering student from the Coast Institute of Technology, said the summit had opened her eyes to new opportunities beyond traditional employment.