President William Ruto oversaw the awarding of certificates to 3,772 artisans through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) scheme at a ceremony held in State House, Nairobi on Thursday.
The RPL initiative, run by the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), evaluates participants on abilities gained from work experience, apprenticeships and other informal training routes.
Addressing the graduates, Ruto said, “We gather today around a simple but firm conviction: every skill matters and has value. For too long, our country has depended on your skills without recognizing them. Your customers knew your competence, but our formal system did not. Today, we are changing that.”
Certification was granted across a range of trades, including building and construction, electrical work, textile and automotive technology, leatherwork, hospitality, ICT and cosmetology.
The programme aims to provide informal workers with formal qualifications and pathways to further training and employment, while the government also promotes the Fundi Locator App to link certified artisans with clients.
Ruto noted that enrolment in technical training institutions rose from roughly 300,000 to 780,000 in 2022 and is projected to reach 1.3 million, reflecting a broader push to expand vocational education.
He announced plans to assess and certify an additional 20,000 skilled workers in the next phase, in partnership with development partners such as the World Bank, and to certify another 40,000 artisans nationwide, adding, “By certifying your abilities, we are giving you the platform to build self-supporting lives, grow stronger enterprises, and drive a more productive Kenya.”
