Kenya Urged to Strengthen Industry-Academia Links for Digital Skills

Kenya’s Principal Secretary for ICT and the Digital Economy, Eng. John Kipchumba Tanui, has called for stronger cooperation between industry and academia to prepare young people for changing workplace demands.

Tanui made the call while delivering the keynote address at the Rift Valley Technical Training Institute (RVTTI) Partners’ Breakfast Meeting, held under the theme “Sustainable Futures.”

He said closer links among employers, training institutions, academia and government were needed to equip Kenya’s youth with practical and market-relevant skills. The engagement focused on the role of technical and vocational education and training in responding to technological change and the country’s long-term development needs.

Aligning training with industry needs

Tanui emphasized the importance of ensuring that technical and vocational education reflects the needs of industry. He said closer collaboration between training institutions and employers was essential to preparing graduates for meaningful employment and emerging economic opportunities.

He also called for industry and training institutions to work more closely on curriculum development, industrial attachment and practical skills training. Such cooperation, he said, could help reduce the gap between education and employment.

According to Tanui, sustained partnerships between industry and academia could also stimulate investment, support job creation and contribute to a more competitive and resilient economy. These outcomes were presented as potential benefits of maintaining stronger links between education providers and employers.

Technology in technical education

The Principal Secretary further urged the integration of information and communication technology, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies into technical and vocational training.

He said technology-focused training could enhance productivity, encourage innovation and equip young people with competencies suited to Kenya’s expanding digital economy.

The State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy identifies digital skills and human capital development as important foundations for inclusive growth, innovation and a sustainable digital economy. The department continues to advance Kenya’s digital transformation agenda.

The meeting was hosted by Eng. Prof. David K. Some, Chair of the RVTTI Board of Management, and Mrs. Loice Kutoh, the institute’s Chief Principal and Secretary to the Board of Management.

The engagement underscored the importance of collaboration among training institutions, industry and government in developing a workforce that can respond to technological change.