President William Ruto has pledged Sh50 million for the expansion of Kamukunji Technical Institute, aiming to enhance vocational training opportunities for youth in Nairobi. Speaking during the official commissioning of the institution on Monday, Ruto announced that the funds will be used to construct a new complex to house courses in engineering, automotive, electrical, and building technology. He emphasized that the expansion project should commence by June, with the goal of enrolling more students from Eastleigh and Kamukunji to equip them with skills crucial for national transformation.
Currently, the institute offers popular courses such as beauty therapy, hairdressing, food and beverage production, and information technology. With the new facilities, the college’s capacity will increase from 500 to 1,500 students, providing more youth with access to technical education. Ruto praised the institution’s leadership for their efforts and reiterated his administration’s commitment to boosting vocational training in Nairobi. “As Kenya transforms, we must start with Nairobi because it is our capital city, and things must work,” he stated.
The President highlighted the importance of upgrading technical colleges to equip youth with market-ready skills, fostering job creation and accelerating Kenya’s development agenda. “We are upgrading our technical colleges to equip our youth with skills and knowledge to enhance job creation and accelerate our country’s transformation agenda,” he said.
In addition to the Sh50 million allocation, Ruto promised the institute a bus and pledged Sh5 million to Kamukunji Primary School for the improvement of key facilities. During his visit, he also addressed residents of Eastleigh, reaffirming his unity deal with ODM leader Raila Odinga and calling for national cohesion.
The President was accompanied by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and several elected leaders from both the Kenya Kwanza and ODM camps. His visit also included plans to launch the Nairobi River Regeneration Programme, which employs 20,000 youth under the Climate Workx project, underscoring the government’s focus on environmental sustainability and youth empowerment.
Ruto’s commitment to Kamukunji Technical Institute reflects the administration’s broader strategy to invest in technical education and create opportunities for youth, particularly in underserved areas. This initiative is expected to play a pivotal role in addressing unemployment and driving Kenya’s socio-economic transformation.
