By KATTI Writer
As Kenya strives to become an upper middle-income economy by the year 2030.Technical skills will be needed as a key driver to revolutionize its industries.
In order to meet this skill gap within its manufacturing sector, TVET training has been identified as the key remedy to fill up this space.
“If we look at the developed nations from Singapore to Germany and entire Europe, they were able to develop because they shifted their focus to technical skills which provided the much-needed manpower to power their industries. As a country I believe the government is on the right track by investing on the TVET institutes by equipping them with state-of-the-art machines, retraining the tutors by partnering with industry players to ensure we produce well competent graduates, “says Mrs Lilian Simali, Deputy Principal, Academics, Matili Technical Training Institute.
Located in Bungoma County in Kimilili town is one of the leading TVET institutes in Western Kenya that strives to be a centre of excellence in Mechanical Engineering.
According to Francis Gathura, Tutor, Mechanical Engineering department, “If we want to achieve industrial revolution in Kenya then Mechanical Engineering training is vital for the growth of every sector of our economy. This kind of training involves equipping students with skills that enables them operates or deals with the design, development, installation, operation and maintenance of anything that has moving parts.”
With a state of the art CNC Workshop within the institute and strategic partnership with leading industry player. The institute has produced some of the best Mechanical Engineers in the country.
Mr. Gathura, “The government through its development partners have been able to equip our workshops with the latest machines that have eased the training process and also creates a strategic partnership that allows our students to go for industrial attachment at various companies hence impacting them with industrial skills needed for economic development. This has enabled our students stand out when it comes to Mechanical Engineering training in the country.”
Currently the institute has a total of 3,350 students and this has enabled by the government’s drive to ensure more enrollment into TVET institutions across the country.
“We have seen a tremendous increment in our enrollment because of the government’s initiative campaign of offering capitation and HELB availability as well as the change of perception about TVET institutes across the country that has really attracted a number of youths both within the county and outside to the country, “comments Mrs Simali.
Matili Technical Training Institute (MTTI) was established in 1959. It is a learning institution that recognizes the role of science, technology, and innovation as crucial in wealth creation, international competitiveness, and social welfare. Before becoming a technical training college.
