Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has reorganised councils of national polytechnics, mirroring the sweeping changes the Kenya Kwanza regime is making since taking over last September.
Through a gazette notice dated March 17, 2023, Mr Machogu has appointed new members of councils in various institutions at a time the government is placing more emphasis on vocational training with the hope of creating more jobs.
Ms Agnes Wanjiru Kamiri has been picked as chairperson of the council of Kabete National Polytechnic with Henry Huka Duba, Honey Abdi Mohamed, Purity Sein, Isabella Njeri Mwangi, and Gilbert Nyogi as members.
Ms Patricia Mwaka Mbogoh is the new council chairperson of the Kenya Coast National Polytechnic whose members are Luciana Sanzua, Peter Munyao Kimilu, Nuru Bwanakombo, Albert Kagwa, and Shukri Baramadi.
Mr Machogu appointed Paul Kibirech to chair the Kitale National Polytechnic council and named Odongo Sylus, Salina Cheruiyot, Harrison Tanga, Isaac Mudogo, and Jane Ahuru as members.
Meru, Nyeri, and Sigalagala national polytechnics will be chaired by Anthony Njagi Getambu, David Kanyoi Gachuru, and Mabel Kyayisia Manashi in that order.
Recently, Mr Machogu said the government will be phasing out business courses from the TVET institutions as they focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses.
However, sources within the TVET departments intimate that managers of the technical institutes and polytechnics are expected to fight the proposal since business courses give them big numbers of students, hence capitation.
When President William Ruto fielded questions in mid-January in a live joint media interview, he said TVETs have been his “pet subject since I was higher education minister, but politics derailed the TVET journey”.
Apart from hiring more technical education tutors, Dr Ruto said the government was engaging Germany and China to equip 70 TVET centres for STEM training.
editor@aplain.co.ke
