Redesign training programs or risk irrelevance, Turkana Deputy Governor tells Vocational institutions

"Redesign training programs or risk irrelevance" — DG Erus tells Vocational Colleges

KAKUMA 19th August 2026

Deputy Governor Dr John Erus has directed all county-owned Technical and Vocational Colleges to redesign training programs around dominant economic activities in their local areas, or risk producing graduates incapable of entering the job market as employees or entrepreneurs.

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Dr Erus also urged the colleges to take advantage of research findings showing that the county’s potential for generating wealth and reducing poverty lies in exploiting key value chains in fishing, livestock slaughter and processing, wind and solar energy, and extractives. He said the institutions should start producing skilled manpower for such opportunities by offering relevant courses.

"The County has already identified key value chains from a joint research with several credible stakeholders," Dr Erus said. "I would be very surprised if, for example, Kalokol and Kataboi fail to offer programs on boat making, fish net repair and cold chain handling to strengthen the area's dominant blue economy value chains."

The Deputy Governor spoke during the official opening of a two-day forum on the County Vocational Education Strategic Plan document. The forum was attended by County Assembly Committee members on Education and Sports, development partners and county officials, with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) led PROSPECTS project.

Dr Erus advised the Directorate of Vocational Training to implement the Strategic Plan in a manner that reflects the dynamic nature of equipping youth with skills for employment and wealth creation, as envisioned in the ongoing national conversation on _'The Kenya We Want by 2060'_ spearheaded by President William Ruto.

"I am satisfied that the Strategic Plan under discussion provides for alignment of programs with market demands," he said. "Failure at the implementation stage means county TVCs will continue to produce graduates unable to help Turkana keep pace with the need for continuous economic growth."

Turkana has eight fully operational TVCs that serve as training centres and examination facilities for TVET CDACC programs. The programs qualify trainers to enter the job market as skilled technicians, technologists and artisans.

ILO Kenya Chief Technical Advisor Carolyne Njuki said the organization had supported Lodwar Vocational Training Center to offer paving programs, and ensured that the skills acquired were used in upgrading the Lodwar Fresh Produce Market with cobblestone pavements.

Ms Njuki added that ILO was keenly monitoring labour trends to be able to advise learning institutions that equip youth with skills for the labour market.

"ILO has been walking with the County and we have realized notable gains especially with cobblestone technology and other programs," she said. "We commit to continue our support and provision of advice moving forward."

Dr Lawrence Odollo, a long-serving educationist and ILO consultant who guided the development of the Strategic Plan, lauded Turkana for what he termed a step in the right direction in securing the future of the youth.

"The vocational training sector is not only dynamic, it also interlinks with quality of workmanship entering the labour market, exploitation of economic activities and generally, the well being of a community," Dr Odollo said. "By having a strategic plan, Turkana is essentially saying that it doesn't want to get it wrong."

During the engagement, Stephen Eregae, Director of Vocational Training, appealed to members of the County Assembly Committee for budgetary support to implement the document.