The Technical University of Kenya will soon be re-chartered to ensure clarity of its mandate as a special technical university.
This was announced by President William Ruto when he visited the university today where he commissioned construction work for Senate Tower and i-Block as well as inaugurated a recently-completed S-Block.
The President’s announcement came about after the University expressed concern that the Legal Order Number 159 of 2007 that created the institution, had not been properly interpreted thus affecting the discharge of its mandate as a polytechnical university. When it was established, the institution was expected to function as both as polytechnic and a university. The lack of clarity has over the years led to less capitation from Exchequer that treats TU-K as any other traditional university yet it continues admitting and training diploma students pursuing various technical disciplines as provided for in the Legal Order.
The President commended the TU-K for maintaining its leading role in TVET programmes in the country adding that the university’s visionary leadership will result in transformation of Kenya’s economy in all sectors.
The President noted that the commitment to TVET programmes had made the institution attractive to a large number of Kenyans pursuing training in vital fields.
“You have maintained leadership as a premier TVET institution. The mainstay of this, is a well-deserved profile that has remained attractive to a large number of Kenyans pursuing training in vital fields. This has also made TU-K graduates preferred by employers seeking to employ skilled personnel.”
He urged the University to stick to its mandate and support the country’s aspirations of becoming industrialised.
“I Commend you for striving in the face of daunting challenges, to retain this iconic identity. Your struggle has admirable results. You have remained a TVET institution supported by robust science and technology disciplines complemented by social sciences and humanities.”
The President noted that young people should be encouraged, trained and nurtured to advance their education. He commended TU-K for giving them opportunities to pursue degrees after completion of diploma courses.
“The Young people’s positive response to the institution’s vision is a clear testimony that you are doing the right thing and doing it well. Our presence at this event, signals the Government’s readiness to partner with tertiary and TVET institutions to forge a clear path that will ensure Kenya increases the pool of highly skilled technical personnel and assume global leadership in all our sectors.”
President Ruto directed the Ministry of Education to find modalities on how diploma graduates wishing to pursue further education can be funded by the Government.
He assured the gathering of the Government’s commitment in funding a planned TVET College, saying it is important to sustain the university’s core mandate. He said the facility will train instructors and lecturers who will serve other TVET institutions across the country.
President Ruto noted that TU-K’s model has been successfully replicated in some African countries, which have proceeded to establish more technical universities than Kenya. He noted that Kenya needs more technical personnel to meet its enormous challenge.
“Considering the shortage of critical skills in vocational disciplines such as plumbing, woodwork among others, the Government will support the youth realise self-employment.”
The President urged TU-K to establish a technology park that would showcase discoveries developed by both students and staff at the University. “We could roll both the incubator and the science park in one facility and see how it works.”
The Head of State expressed hope that TU-K will play a critical role in the development of the Railway City whose commissioning of initial works he presided over on Wednesday 7th December 2022.
On the future of university admissions, the President noted that a framework will be worked out to make it possible for universities to admit students that the Government can support.
He challenged TVET institutions to train more graduates who can work locally and other would get opportunities abroad and the country will benefit from diaspora remittances.
Present during the event were Cabinet Secretary for Education, Hon. Ezekiel Machogu, Nairobi Governor, Hon. Johnson Sakaja, Nairobi Regional Commissioner, Mr Kang’ethe Thuku, Commission for University Education CEO, Prof. Mike Kuria, TVETA, Dr Kipkurui Langat, HELB CEO, Mr Charles Ringera, KUCCPS CEO, Dr. Agnes Wahome and other senior officers from State agencies.
