𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐓 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘 (𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐀), 𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐈 𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑.

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐓 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘 (𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐀), 𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐈 𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑.

This morning, I held a consultative and familiarization meeting at the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) in Athi River. The meeting involved the Authority’s senior management, trainers, and various stakeholders, with the objective of reviewing and reinvigorating NITA’s mandate in preparing Kenyans for jobs both locally and abroad.

I commended NITA for the commendable work they are doing and urged them to embrace new ideas to improve their service delivery. However, it is clear that reform is necessary to elevate NITA to the next level. We need to implement transformative changes that will make NITA a beacon of excellence in industrial training.

During our discussions, we agreed on the need to review the curriculum and assessment practices to align them with international standards. It was suggested that the training duration be shorter than the already existing timeline, focusing more on hands-on, practical, and simulated setups. This approach would help minimize culture shock and ensure that Kenya remains competitive in the foreign Labour market. The idea is to shift from theory-heavy instruction to more practical training.

I emphasized that the Kenyan Labour force should be “plug and play” wherever they are hired, requiring minimal additional training. A tour of NITA revealed that our current training methods, equipment, state of buildings, and learning environment do not meet international standards. This situation calls for urgent reform and action. NITA must project an international image in all its endeavors.

Additionally, I stressed the importance of a mindset change. We must shift from being mere consumers of other countries’ goods to becoming producers of new products and ideas. A consumer society is an enslaved society. Let us seek innovative ways of improving what we do for greater efficiency and relevance.