By Jabali Digital
Thousands of students in Kisumu County’s 28 vocational training centres (VTCs) have received a timely boost, after governor Anyang’ Nyong’o’s administration on Wednesday flagged off learning tools and equipment worth Sh10 million.
The tools, gotten courtesy of Tools to Work, an organisation based in Netherlands through the Kisumu based Sustainable Rural Initiative organisation will strengthen skills-based education in various departments, ranging from building and construction to plumbing, and to automotive engineering, among others.
Speaking during the flag off exercise at Rotary VTC, John Awiti, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for education, technical training, innovation and social services said quality training goes hand in hand with availability of relevant tools and equipment.
“Engagements are ongoing with other partners to get more tools. In the coming weeks, we will be having another consignment from another partner,” added the CECM.
“We are happy because today, we are adding more tools and equipment to those already available in our 28 institutions.”
Bovince Ochieng, Chief Officer in the department emphasised on the importance of skill-based education, noting that the new equipment would enhance practical training and better prepare learners for the job market.
The 2025 Kenya Secondary School Education (KCSE) results, he said, revealed grim statistics, with 50% of those who sat for the examination failing to land direct university entry grades.
“Based on the KCSE result that came out in 2025, the data shows that 993,00students sat for KCSE, 227,000 students managed to get direct placement to the university, and 482,000 got D, D-, and E. That is almost 50%. Within the county context, 28,000 learners sat for KCSE, out of which 8,000 with few hundreds got D+,” he said.
“Those who got D, D-, and E are 7,900. So, that is a total of 16,000 out of the 28,000. This is an indicator that these kinds of learners are not likely to get placement at the university, and they need to take up the opportunity that we have in our VTCs.”
Similarly, he rallied parents and the Kisumu community at large toward embracing technical training, noting that it is a sure bet to equipping youth with the skills that will enable them to have a head-start in life.
The county official added that Nyong’o’s administration invested Sh18 million in purchase of tools and equipment in the last financial year, indicating that Sh20 million has been allocated in the current financial year to further strengthen vocational training.
On criteria for distribution, he said VCTs with least tools and equipment (recently established) will receive more for a level playing field in training.
