Technical and vocational education is central to Kenya’s ambition to build a skilled workforce capable of driving economic growth. From electricians and plumbers to masons, carpenters and technicians, the country depends on these institutions to produce workers with practical skills.

But that promise is threatened when the very authority mandated to protect training standards struggles to enforce the rules.

An audit of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority paints a troubling picture. By November 2025, 812 of the 2,120 registered institutions had expired licences.

More than 2,400 licensed trainers were also operating with expired licences. Even more concerning, 87 institutions had waited for accreditation decisions since 2014.

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These are not minor administrative lapses. They raise fundamental questions about the quality of training, the credibility of qualifications and the protection of students who invest time and money expecting recognised skills.

The authority's staffing crisis compounds the problem. With 62 employees against an approved establishment of 140, and only four technical officers in the accreditation department against 18 required, its capacity to inspect, monitor and enforce standards is severely constrained.

But understaffing cannot become a permanent excuse for regulatory failure. The authority must account for unresolved accreditation applications, expired licences and weaknesses in its enforcement systems.

The government, in turn, must address the staffing gaps and provide the resources necessary for effective oversight.

The Sh5.14 million ERP system expenditure, without evidence that database access rights were handed over, raises further questions about financial accountability and management controls.

Students, employers and the economy deserve a TVET system they can trust. Training institutions must meet standards, trainers must be properly licensed and the regulator must demonstrate that compliance is more than paperwork. Kenya cannot build a skilled workforce on weak regulation.

Quote of the Day: “The power to question is the basis of all human progress."—Fourth Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her bodyguards on October 31, 1984