Sh.2.6 billion disbursed to tertiary institutions for free learning

Technical and Vocational Training (TVET) Principal Secretary DR. Kevit Desai (second right) is joined by officials from the Kenya Association of Technical Training Institute (KATTI) as they launched the Strategic Plan for the 2019 callender during the opening of the 3rd KATTI International Research Conference at the PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort, December 11, 2018. At the right is KATTI national chairman Glory Mutungi. [PHOTO: GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

The Government has disbursed Sh2.6 billion to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions countrywide.

The money is in addition to a grant and a soft loan from the German government totaling Sh9.2 billion. 

Germany gave the money through its implementing agency KfW.

This came amidst complaints by Kenya Association of Technical Training Institutions (KATTI) over delay in disbursing the money.

KATTI chairman Glory Mutungi yesterday said many TVET institutions had been hit by lack of cash.

Tertiary institutions

She said the tertiary institutions had not received the payment for the last six months, which had affected their programmes.

But yesterday, TVET Director Meshack Opwora said: “The money has been released and will start reflecting your accounts as soon as tomorrow.”

Dr Opwora spoke during a research conference in Mombasa. 

The Government pays Sh30,000 for each needy student.

Participants noted that more students were enrolling in TVET institutions with the number expected to hit 200,000 in January.

Kevit Desai, the State Department of Technical and Vocational Training PS, said the Government would partner with the private sector to finance the institutions.

“We have received both grant and soft loan from KfW, which will be used to improve our TVET institutions starting next year.

"This is part of the Government’s strategy to improve the quality of training to ensure we have the right manpower to realise the Big Four agenda,” said Dr Desai, who also attended the conference.

The PS said the funds from KfW grant would cater for tuition fees, technical support and equipping national TVET centres of excellence.

He added: "About Sh820 million of the amount will be used as bursaries for needy students pursuing TVET courses, while Sh3.75 billion will be distributed to three centres of excellence namely, Kiambu Technical Training Institute, Nairobi Technical Training Institute and Thika Technical Training Institute.”

Meanwhile, the Government has tasked Kiambu Technical Training Institute to come up with a juice production plant, Nairobi Technical Training Institute a construction centre while Thika Technical Training Institute is expected to be a centre of automotive engineering.

“The three technical institutes will also be training centres for other institutions across the country. The Kiambu institute, for instance, will have to set up a value chain of juice production from seed planting to the final product that is ready for the market, “Desai said.

At least Sh3.166 billion will cater for entrepreneurship and incubation centres in TVET institutes.

"TVET institutions are job creating centres. That is why the Government is setting up incubation centres with the institutions to drive entrepreneurial campaign among the TVET students.

Sh352 million

"This will be done through industry linkages. There is also the Sh352 million that will be used to finance technical support in the TVET institutions across the country," Desai said.

The PS said the Government would pump an additional Sh1.5 billion TVET institutions to support renewable energy. “The aim of this kind of funding is to set up renewable energy sources within the institutions," he said.