The transition is intended to preserve partnerships between training institutions and employers, ensuring young people continue to acquire practical skills

Dual TVET trainees share their experiences and insights on workplace-based learning during the Rift Valley Regional Dual TVET project closure and handover meeting in Eldoret./HANDOUT

The government is moving to take full responsibility for the implementation of Dual Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Dual TVET) in the Rift Valley Region as external project support prepares to end in December 2026.

The commitment was made during the Rift Valley Regional Dual TVET Project Closure and Hand-Over Meeting held in Eldoret on October 27, 2026. Government representatives, TVET institutions, industry partners, trainees and development partners attended the meeting to assess progress and discuss how to sustain the programme beyond the current project phase.

Under the handover, the State Department for TVET, through the Dual Training Coordination Unit (DTCU), will lead the coordination and institutionalisation of Dual TVET in the region.

The move shifts implementation from project-supported delivery to a government-led approach focused on continuity, institutional ownership and the long-term relevance of technical training.

James Tegeret, Director of Linkages and Dual Training at the State Department for TVET, said the transition was critical to embedding the model in the country's training system and ensuring its benefits translate into lasting opportunities for young people.

“The close-out of Phase II should mark the beginning of a stronger phase of government-led institutionalisation. Our collective responsibility is to ensure that the capacities developed, partnerships established and lessons learned continue to support a responsive and sustainable Dual TVET system,” Tegeret said.

The handover follows the Promotion of Youth Employment and Vocational Training Project, which supports the institutionalisation of Dual TVET in Kenya.

The project is implemented by the Ministry of Education's State Department for TVET, with technical support from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). It receives financial support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Gideon Murenga, National TVET Coordinator at GIZ Kenya, said the programme's future would depend on how effectively the government, training institutions and employers build on the foundations established during implementation.

He challenged institutional leaders to make Dual TVET part of their regular operations and long-term plans rather than continue treating it as an externally supported initiative.

“I challenge TVET institutional leaders to embed Dual TVET within their institutional structures, daily operations and strategic plans. This must no longer be viewed as a GIZ-supported project, but as an integral part of how our institutions operate. Dual TVET must become part of our institutional culture, planning and investment priorities,” Murenga said.

The current phase began in 2023 and is scheduled to conclude in December 2026. It builds on an earlier pilot programme implemented between 2019 and 2022.

In the Rift Valley, 20 TVET institutions have received support to strengthen collaboration with employers and integrate structured workplace experience into formal technical training.

The model places industry at the centre of skills development, allowing trainees to gain practical experience while helping ensure their training reflects actual workplace standards and employer needs.

Benson Magolo, Director of Aubergine Restaurant in Kericho, said the approach had improved the practical skills and readiness of trainees entering the workplace.

“I have retained about 4 Dual TVET trainees because their practical skills, understanding and willingness to learn are far better than what we experienced before,” Magolo said.

Stakeholders identified several priorities for sustaining the programme, including institutional coordination, monitoring and quality assurance, stakeholder engagement, strategic resource allocation, knowledge management and continuous improvement.

Sustained employer engagement was identified as particularly important in ensuring workplace training remains structured and equips trainees with competencies that match labour market demands.

The meeting is expected to inform a Dual TVET implementation roadmap for the Rift Valley beyond the project period. The DTCU will lead the process and communicate the roadmap, which will provide guidance on implementation, quality assurance, industry partnerships and continuous improvement.

The transition reflects a broader effort to integrate gains from development-supported skills programmes into government systems and institutional practice.

For the Rift Valley, the challenge will be to maintain the partnerships and structures linking training institutions to employers, allowing young people to continue accessing practical, relevant and industry-responsive technical education.