The Mt Kenya Times 
Dr. Ekrah Ndung’u honoured for 12 years of championing technical education and skills development
The honour caps over a decade of relentless lobbying for technical education to be taken seriously as a driver of Kenya’s economic future.
By John Kariuki
Dr. Ekrah Ndung’u has received the Champion of Technical Education and Skills Development Award 2026, a recognition that marks 12 years of consistent advocacy for the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector.
The award, presented in acknowledgement of her sustained lobbying efforts, celebrates a career defined not by the pursuit of personal accolades but by a determined push to keep technical education on Kenya’s public agenda. For more than a decade, Ndung’u has argued — persistently and at times against the tide — that TVET deserves to be treated as an essential pillar of education rather than a lesser alternative to academic pathways.
It is a cause that matters. Technical education offers young Kenyans a direct route to practical, market-oriented skills that open doors to employment, self-employment and business creation. Yet the sector has long struggled for the attention and investment that its contribution to the economy warrants. Advocates like Ndung’u play a quiet but critical role in bridging that gap — drawing policymakers, institutions and employers back to a conversation that can otherwise slip down the agenda.
Her 12-year record reflects the kind of persistence such work demands. Changing how a society values a sector of education does not happen quickly, and sustaining that effort across more than a decade while building credibility speaks to both the depth of her conviction and the quality of her engagement.
At a moment when countries across the world are scrambling to develop skilled workforces capable of meeting the demands of rapidly changing economies, Kenya’s investment in TVET represents a strategic priority rather than a secondary concern. Ndung’u’s advocacy has helped maintain the case for that investment through changing political cycles and shifting national priorities.
In receiving the award, she expressed gratitude for the recognition while remaining characteristically measured — describing it as a deeply appreciated milestone after years of service to the sector. That restraint, in itself, is telling. The work of a genuine advocate is rarely glamorous, and those who do it best tend to be motivated by outcomes rather than attention.
Her recognition is also an encouragement to others in similar roles — professionals who extend their expertise beyond their immediate responsibilities to push for progress in areas that serve the wider public good.
As Kenya continues to build its skills base and prepare its workforce for emerging economic opportunities, the contribution of consistent, credible advocates will remain indispensable.
For Dr. Ekrah Ndung’u, yesterday’s honour was a fitting affirmation of 12 years spent making that case.
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