The government's push to strengthen technical and vocational education has received a major boost with the expansion of infrastructure at the Chuka Technical and Vocational College, part of a wider national effort to equip young people with practical skills and prepare them for the job market.
The expansion comes as demand for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes continues to rise across the country, driven by growing recognition of skills-based training as a pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and industrial growth.
At Chuka TVC in Tharaka Nithi County, the State Department for Housing is constructing two modern hostels under the Affordable Housing Programme, providing accommodation for 1,820 trainees.
The project, the first large-scale hostel development at the institution, is expected to address a longstanding accommodation shortage that has affected students as enrolment numbers surged in recent years.
According to the college's Deputy Principal in charge of Administration, Finance and Planning, Kimathi Bundi, the new hostels, together with the upgrading of the 5km Kaanwa-Chuka TVC road, mark a significant milestone for the institution.
“The construction of the hostels and the tarmacking of the road herald a new beginning for the institution,” Bundi said.
He noted that the contractor had committed to hiring about 200 residents during construction, creating employment opportunities while boosting the local economy.
“The project will provide our trainees with good accommodation since it will house 910 male and 910 female students, totalling 1,820 beds,” he said.
Bundi added that the development aligns with the institution's mission of providing quality technical education and practical training.
He said students pursuing Building and Civil Engineering as well as Electrical and Electronic Engineering courses will benefit directly through hands-on learning opportunities created by the project.
“We sincerely appreciate President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki for this initiative. It is not only improving accommodation but also creating employment opportunities for the surrounding community,” he said.
Chuka TVC currently has a student population of about 5,000 and offers programmes in engineering, information communication technology, business studies and institutional management, among other disciplines.
The expansion comes as the government seeks to position TVET institutions at the centre of Kenya's industrialisation agenda by producing skilled workers capable of meeting labour market demands.
Engineer Enock Yegon, who oversees the project on behalf of the institution, described the development as a major turning point.
“This project enhances STEM training because we are moving towards a modularised curriculum that focuses on practical skills and actual work experience,” he said.
“Having an affordable housing project within the institution allows trainees to connect classroom learning with real-life applications.”
Yegon said the institution has struggled with accommodation for years, making the hostel project critical to its growth.
He added that students and the surrounding community are already seeing the benefits of the ongoing developments, including improved road infrastructure that is opening up the area and making the college more accessible.
As the government continues investing in TVET institutions nationwide, education stakeholders say improved infrastructure will play a key role in attracting more learners, enhancing training quality and supporting Kenya's broader economic transformation agenda.
