Remote Village In Kirinyaga Gets A TVET Institution, Anticipates Economic Growth
Gichugu Technical and Vocational College principal Joseph Kimemia addressing the media. PHOTO BY RAYMOND WANJOHI
By: Raymond Wanjohi
A remote village in Gichugu Constituency in Kirinyaga County is set to experience tremendous economic growth as the government introduces an ultra-modern Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) institution.
The Ministry of Education, through the State department for TVET, has constructed Gichugu Technical and Vocational College at Kiambatha village with an aim of entrenching TVET training at the grassroots.
The institution is expected to be officially opened by President William Ruto in September this year so as to tap more youths who will contribute to the development of the country’s economy.
Already, the government has reskilled 4,840 trainers on the new Competency Based Education and Training (CBET) program and will be dispatched to all the TVET institutions countrywide.
The college’s principal Joseph Kimemia said the government equipment worth Sh100 million will be allocated to the institution to enhance learning.
So far, he said, they have registered more than 400 trainees who have applied for various courses. He targets to register 1,000 learners by the time the institution opens up, adding that it has a capacity to accommodate 3,000 of them
“This college will not only transform this village but the entire Central Kenya region because it is one of the colleges earmarked by the government to be centers of mechanical engineering training in the country,” Kimemia said.
He said that TVET learning has been supported by President Ruto’s administration as a key driving engine to the country’s transformation.
“We have over the years tried to convince our young people to let go of the belief injected to them by their forefathers that TVET learning was meant for failures. We are at a moment where TVET learning is no longer an option but a choice. Under the technical training program, we no longer discuss grades but what individual students can do,” he said.
Rose Thiguku, a resident, said they have started constructing houses that will host the growing population that will result from the institution.
“We are determined to uproot our tea and coffee plantations so as to construct hostels and rental houses for our children and trainers. We are happy because our talented youths will get the opportunity of exploring them and amassing more knowledge,” Thiguku said.
Sarah Njoki, another resident, said the college will also contribute to the growth of the economy in the remote village and create wealth.
“We are grateful because this college will transform our lifestyle positively. When we were giving out this piece of land to the government, we were optimistic that our local youths would one day join their counterparts who have been playing a critical role in building this country after completing their training,” Njoki said.
Already, investors have started purchasing land to build rental houses and hostels for the anticipated rise in population.
Now, the residents are urging the government to construct feeder roads that lead to the institution.
“The road connectivity from Kianyaga town to Kiambatha village is in a deplorable condition. We want the government to tarmac the rough road so as to enhance connectivity and precipitate growth in this village,” said Njoki.
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