Kenya Case Study
Strengthening Kenya’s Skilling Ecosystem through a Tripartite Partnership between TVETs, Government, and Industry
Context
Kenya faces both a significant challenge and a tremendous opportunity due to its youthful population, with two-thirds under 35. However, unemployment remains a major crisis, with many youth lacking the skills needed for formal jobs. Thousands enter the labor market each year, yet a significant portion remain in low-quality or “vulnerable” employment, primarily in the informal sector.
TVET institutions have the potential to bridge this gap by equipping young people with practical skills. However, they struggle with outdated curriculums, underfunded labs, and limited access to hands-on training. Additionally, there is little to no industry linkage, making it difficult for youth to transition smoothly into the workforce. Many students also face financial barriers, as tuition and exam fees of $300 are unaffordable for many, leading to high dropout rates and a lack of proper certification.
Thinking about Youth & Skilling in Kenya
Recognizing this gap in the skilling ecosystem —and bringing over 20 years of experience in the skilling space in India—Pratham International ventured into Kenya in 2023. A dedicated team of experts visited Kenya to understand the local context. Through extensive discussions with government departments, TVET faculty, and industry stakeholders, we identified key focus areas for intervention.
We partnered with a local organization, Grassroots Nest for Innovation and Change (GRIC) that has been working for the empowerment of children, youth, and women in underserved communities. After discussions with the Departments of Skilling in various counties, Pratham International signed the MoU with the County Government of Kisumu in late 2023 to improve the youth training program across all of their 28 skilling institutes (VTCs) in their regions. This was soon followed by an MoU with the Nairobi County Government, expanding our reach to 39 VTCs across both regions.
Our focus since has been to raise awareness about the importance of practical training, the need for well equipped laboratories and the benefit of strong industry connections. Keeping this in mind, we initiated training of trainers. Our expert trainers from India conducted an intensive 40-hour, one-week in-person workshop on effective training techniques and activities, emphasizing the importance of peer learning. The idea was to make the sessions highly engaging and practical, serving as a model for trainers to replicate in their own classrooms, ensuring that youth receive similarly interactive and effective training. Over 100 trainers across 39 vocational institutes in Kisumu and Nairobi have undergone this training.. They have also received ongoing support post-training to facilitate the seamless adoption of new tasks and teaching methods. We are also conducting online and in-person training on soft skills for trainers across various counties. These ongoing online sessions are facilitated by experts, equipping trainers with techniques to enhance youth employability.
Deepening Impact: Industry Engagement
Simultaneously, to bridge the gap between vocational centers and industry, we actively engaged with industries across different trades to understand their expectations
and align vocational training with industry needs. This effort yielded tangible results as we have established strong partnerships with over 120 industries across various sectors, leading to more than 500 identified job vacancies and over 400 successful youth attachments. Our collaborations include key organizations such as Kenya Power & Lighting Company (KPLC), Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KENGEN), Grand Royal Swiss Hotel, Ciala Resort, Kenya Industrial Research & Development Institute (KIRDI), and Muhoroni Sugar, among others. Building on this momentum, we are now shifting our focus to securing long-term job placements for youth, ensuring sustainable and formal employment opportunities beyond attachments.
To further support this initiative, we are piloting a digital placement platform that connects youth with industries. This platform will allow industries to advertise job opportunities while enabling youth to showcase their profiles, creating a seamless matching system
Community Initiatives: Pedal to Learn Project
In late 2024, we visited Kajiado County, where the Maasai people maintain a semi-nomadic pastoral lifestyle, deeply rooted in their cultural traditions. The vast, rugged terrain and scattered settlements present significant challenges, particularly in accessing essential services like education. During our visit, we witnessed firsthand the struggles faced by Maasai children, many of whom walk long distances—often up to 7 kilometers each way—to reach school. This led to the Pedal to Learn project, which is currently in the survey phase. Through this project, we aim to assess how bicycles impact attendance, punctuality, and student well-being. By gathering community insights and tracking outcomes, we will evaluate whether a bicycle-sharing program can sustainably reduce travel fatigue, improve mobility and improve school retention for Maasai children in Kajiado County and beyond.
Way Forward
We are actively planning to expand our reach across Kenya. Over the next year, we aim to scale the initiative to 12 counties and establish formal partnerships through MoUs. Building on the successes of our pilot programs in Kisumu and Nairobi, we will replicate and improve on these efforts to create a greater impact in new regions.