Young Kenyans are pursuing technical training to boost employment prospects amid demand for skilled workers, as institutions link graduates with employers locally and abroad.
The graduates are targeting jobs in construction, manufacturing and emerging industries, while hoping to benefit from overseas pathways, including those associated with the government’s Kazi Majuu programme.
Joseph Mwai, who recently completed advanced Metal Active Gas (MAG) welding training at Toolkit Skills and Innovation Hub in Kikuyu, Kiambu county, said that he chose the course because of its potential to open doors in Kenya and internationally.
Mwai, who had previously studied biomedical engineering, said that specialised welding skills would become increasingly important as the country expands its industrial capacity, particularly in construction and oil-related industries.
“I decided to pursue MAG welding because of the opportunities that are around, especially internationally and in our country,” he said.
Another graduate, Joel Macharia, turned to MAG welding after a road accident left him with injuries that led to the loss of his job.
Macharia, who had previously studied mechanical engineering, enrolled after his aunt told him about the training last December. He described the course as an alternative to remaining idle and urged other young people to consider technical skills as a route back into employment.
The graduates completed a six-month welding programme combining classroom instruction with industrial attachment.
Toolkit connects graduates with multinational companies where they can gain hands-on experience, helping them build practical competence and links that may open up employment opportunities beyond Kenya.
The institution offers courses on advanced construction and welding, renewable energy and electrical tech and digital skills and business among others
Habib Ali from Hadiid Industries, which is currently providing industrial attachment to more than 40 graduates from the college, underscored the need for technical training institutions to work with manufacturers to provide learners with experience.
Another company, Master Fabricators, has worked with the institution to provide skills to over 60 learners.
Geoffrey Mosiria, former Nairobi chief officer for citizen engagement, urged graduates to use their skills to create employment rather than wait for formal jobs.
Mosiria said that Toolkit could help graduates access overseas opportunities through legitimate connections, warning young people to be wary of agencies that demand money while making false promises.
He pledged that, if elected Nairobi governor, he would seek partnerships with institutions such as Toolkit to expand access to short technical courses.
He also called for changes to employment requirements to allow applicants with practical skills, including welding, plumbing and electrical work, to qualify for some government jobs even without KCSE certificates.
Kevin Osundwa, regional director for Africa at the Institute of Commercial Management, challenged graduates to view welding as a skill with applications across sectors, including oil refineries, house construction and motor vehicle manufacturing.
Osundwa explained that ICM, which originated in the UK, works with agencies and organisations to develop curricula, assess trainees and certify their skills.
Recognised certification, he said, can help learners demonstrate competence to prospective global employers and progress through training levels.
He urged graduates to pursue entrepreneurship and innovation instead of relying solely on salaried employment, arguing that technical skills could help them establish businesses and create jobs for others. He also pointed to potential demand from emerging industrial projects.
John Njuguna, deputy director at Don Bosco Tech Africa, stressed that technical education should go beyond mastering a trade to include creativity, design and continuous learning.
Don Bosco Tech Africa coordinates technical schools and training centres across Africa. Njuguna said that its network spans 55 countries and about 120 technical and vocational education and training centres, helping prepare young people for changing labour markets.
He urged graduates to use technology, including artificial intelligence, as a tool to support their work rather than simply copy existing designs. Combining welding with complementary skills, he argued, could help young technicians become more innovative and competitive.
Njuguna challenged employers to give young people opportunities to gain experience, noting that entry-level applicants are often held back by demands for previous work experience. He argued that Africa’s ability to process its natural resources into finished products is also limited by gaps in technical skills.
He encouraged graduates to keep learning as technology and industry evolve, and referred to African Skills Week, recently held in Zimbabwe under the African Union, as part of wider efforts to promote skills development.
“The drive that is coming in from the African Union is that skill is an enabler. We are speaking about Africa becoming a manufacturing continent because we are endowed with a lot of natural resources,” he said.
“We have numerous minerals but we are unable to exploit them because we don't have the skills. And that's why if the gold is found here, it’s the multi-nationals that come in to mine them. The debate is that African resources should be processed locally and value-added products sold.”
