PS Higher Education, Dr Beatrice Inyangala and JKUAT Council Chair, Dr James Onsando, lay the foundation stone for Wafula Wabuke JKUAT TVET Institute./HANDOUTJomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) on Tuesday, October 13, marked a significant milestone in expanding technical and vocational education in Kenya with a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Wafula Wabuge JKUAT TVET Institute in Likuyani Constituency, Kakamega County.
The TVET facility is strategically designed to deliver market-driven certificate and diploma programmes across three key pillars of economic development: Engineering, Agriculture, and Information Communication Technology (ICT).
The initiative aims to equip young people with practical, industry-aligned skills, foster grassroots innovation, create employment pathways, and bridge the technical skills gap in the region and nationally.
The ceremonial groundbreaking was presided over by the Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research, Dr Beatrice Inyangala, alongside key leaders including the Area Member of Parliament, Hon. Mugabe Innocent Maino; JKUAT Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi; and JKUAT Council Chairman, Dr Micah Onsando. Other dignitaries and stakeholders from the Ministry of Education, county government, industry partners, and the local community also attended the event.
Speaking during the ceremony, Dr Beatrice Inyangala, Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research, emphasised the government’s commitment to expanding access to quality technical education aligned with national development goals, including the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and Kenya’s Vision 2030:
“The establishment of Wafula Wabuge JKUAT TVET Institute represents a transformative step in our effort to democratise higher education and technical skills training in Kenya. By integrating Engineering, Agriculture, and ICT under one roof, we are equipping our youth with practical competencies that directly align with our national development priorities and industry requirements. The Ministry is fully committed to supporting institutions that build a strong base for sustainable economic growth.”
Area MP Hon Mugabe Innocent Maino commended JKUAT and the Ministry for bringing hands-on higher education closer to the constituency.
“This groundbreaking ceremony is a monumental victory for our constituency and the surrounding communities. The Institute will serve as a beacon of opportunity for thousands of young people, providing them with direct access to world-class training in critical fields without having to travel far from home. We welcome this development and remain committed to ensuring the success and growth of Wafula Wabuge JKUAT TVET,” Hon. Mugabe said.
JKUAT Vice Chancellor Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi highlighted the university’s dedication to academic excellence, practical research, and community-centred innovation.
“JKUAT has long been a pioneer in science, technology, and agriculture. Establishing this dedicated TVET institute allows us to extend our specialized expertise directly to technical and vocational trainees. Through hands-on learning in ICT, modern agricultural practices, and core engineering disciplines, we are nurturing a new generation of skilled technicians and entrepreneurs capable of solving real-world challenges,” Prof. Ngumi said
Prof Ngumi added that JKUAT remains fully committed to implementing the Institute and lauded the visionary leadership of the late Hon. Wafula Wabuge whose family donated the 50-acre piece of land to JKUAT for training and research activities.
JKUAT Council Chairman Dr Micah Onsando reaffirmed the governing council’s dedication to expanding institutional infrastructure and operational efficiency. He added that by establishing the Institute, the locality will no only get an institution that offers quality training but one that equips its learners with entrepreneurial skills for livelihood transformation.
“JKUAT is a leader in commercialisation, value addition and knowledge economy. That is what the university is bringing on the ground, here in Likuyani,” Dr. Onsando said.
Through its lab-to-land approach, JKUAT already undertaken targeted technology transfer to Likuyani residents in key areas such as in modern dairy farming, crop husbandry and agribusiness.
