More than 21,000 candidates have started sitting the National Industrial Training Authority’s August 2026 trade tests across the country.
NITA Director General Rukia Atikiya said the two-week exercise kicked off on August 10 and will run until August 22 in 512 centres across all 47 counties.
The tests cover 46 trades, she said, including electrical, mechanical, plumbing, masonry, carpentry, tailoring, cosmetology and hairdressing.
“We are here today to officially launch the government’s August trade test. Normally, the trade tests are conducted in three phases: April, August and December,” Rukia said.
She spoke during the national launch at Don Bosco Institute, Karen in Nairobi county on Tuesday.
She was accompanied by NITA Board Director Joel Chebii, Director of Industrial Training and Skills Development Jane Kamau, and Director of Legal Services Fridah Ng’alu.
Rukia said NITA’s mandate is anchored on practical, competency-based assessments that meet industry requirements.
“For us, we look at NITA from the perspective of practical orientation in terms of competencies for skills for the industry. The examinations we conduct are practical and exhaustive in the manner assessments are done,” she said.
She added that the authority is also leveraging Recognition of Prior Learning, RPL, to certify workers who acquired skills informally but have not gone through formal training.
“RPL is a key element for NITA since it enables those who have not had opportunities to go through formal training to access certification and effectively gain employment,” Rukia said.
The DG urged youth to embrace technical and vocational training, saying skills are quickly convertible into livelihoods and are critical to industrial growth.
“The world of work is progressing, and the focus of most countries is currently on technical orientation. We shouldn’t shy away as youth from registering for any trade that will help us contribute to this country,” she said.
The August series is the second of three government trade test series conducted annually by NITA.
During the event, some certificates were issued to those who sat for trade tests at Don Bosco Institute, Karen in 2025.
