The Kiambu County Assembly has formally kicked off the process of receiving public views and memoranda on seven proposed Bills slated for enactment, marking a critical phase in the county’s legislative calendar that places citizen participation at the heart of lawmaking.
The exercise, which began this week, has seen members of the public invited to submit their views to various sectoral committees of the Assembly. The first Bill to undergo public scrutiny is the Kiambu County Vocational Education and Training Institutions Bill, 2025, a proposal that has generated significant interest due to its focus on skills development and youth empowerment.
Members of the public on Tuesday engaged Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) during a public participation forum convened by the County Assembly Committee on Education, Science and Research, chaired by Hon. Lawrence Mwaura (MCA, Ting’ang’a Ward).
The Bill, a Private Member’s Bill sponsored by Hon. Rebecca Nyaruai Kiarie, seeks to establish a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework for the management, financing and quality assurance of vocational education and training (VET) institutions across Kiambu County.
Speaking during the forum, Hon. Nyaruai said the proposed law is inspired by her long-standing commitment to improving the livelihoods of young people, particularly those who complete secondary education but face challenges accessing affordable, market-driven training.
“I was moved to come up with an Act that can benefit our youth who leave high school but struggle to access affordable courses with a ready market,” she said.
She explained that the Bill proposes the establishment of Centres of Excellence within vocational training centres (VTCs) to promote specialization, as well as the creation of a County Vocational Education and Training Board to guide the management of VTCs and the development of relevant curricula.
The legislation also allows VTCs to establish income-generating enterprises, with proceeds reinvested into scholarships, equipment and improved training facilities.
Several stakeholders made submissions during the forum, among them members of Bunge Mashinani led by Mr. Michael Mburu; Mr. Joseph Mburu, Principal of Ruiru VTC, who represented VTC tutors; and Mr. Peter Kuria, a beneficiary of vocational training.
Bunge Mashinani welcomed the proposed law, noting that it comes at a critical time when practical skills are increasingly central to youth empowerment and self-reliance. The group, however, proposed several amendments aimed at strengthening governance and funding mechanisms.
Mr. Kuria shared a personal testimony underscoring the importance of technical skills even for university graduates. A graduate of Kenyatta University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Mathematics, Kuria told the Committee that he remained unemployed for over a year before enrolling in a technical course.
“I decided to pursue a course that would give me practical skills I could apply whether employed or not,” he said.
He later trained in welding at the Tool Kit Skill and Innovation Hub in Kikuyu and secured employment with Shanga Engineering Company shortly after completing the course.
“Technical skills are the real game-changer. I earn my livelihood from my VTC training, while my degree is still unused,” Kuria said, urging the Committee to ensure that each VTC in Kiambu is designated a specific area of training excellence and that institutions are mapped to offer courses aligned with their capacity.
The Bill further seeks to clarify institutional roles in the management of VTCs. Under the proposal, the County Public Service Board will be responsible for recruiting staff, while Boards of Governance will oversee financial, human resource and asset management. The County Executive Committee Member will also have powers to establish advisory committees to guide policy and monitor institutions.
To enhance sustainability, the Bill introduces financial provisions requiring public VTCs to comply with public sector accounting standards and establish endowment funds from surplus revenues. It also proposes that the County Assembly allocates 0.2 per cent of the County Revenue Fund annually to promote vocational education and training.
Additional provisions cover the establishment and licensing of VTCs, offences and penalties for non-compliance, transitional arrangements, appeals mechanisms and regulation-making powers. Once enacted, institutions will be required to align their programmes with the new legal framework.
If passed, the Bill is expected to play a transformative role in equipping Kiambu residents with practical skills, enhancing employability and supporting the county’s socio-economic development.
Meanwhile, the Committee will continue receiving written memoranda from members of the public, addressed to the Clerk of the County Assembly, until Thursday, January 22, 2026.
In a related development, the County Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Transport, Public Works and Infrastructure has welcomed further public input as it considers reforms in fire and rescue services.
The Committee on Tuesday met with officials from the County Executive to deliberate on the proposed Kiambu County Fire and Rescue Services Bill, 2025. The meeting was chaired by Hon. Patrick Mwiberi Ngugi, with the County Executive team led by Chief Officer Ms. Virginia Kihonge and Chief Fire Officer Mr. Samuel Kahura.
During the deliberations, the department proposed several amendments, citing the lack of adequate TVET training in fire and disaster management and insufficient funding as major challenges undermining effective fire and rescue services in the county.
The Committee assured the department that the proposed amendments would be considered to enhance funding and ensure the County Fire Department is well-equipped to serve residents effectively.
Public participation forums on the Fire and Rescue Services Bill are scheduled for Tuesday, January 27, 2026, with the Chairperson encouraging members of the public and stakeholders to submit written memoranda to the Office of the Clerk.
Members of the public can download the proposed Bill and a generic memorandum template from the County Assembly website. The Bill is sponsored by Hon. Lawrence Mwaura (MCA, Ting’ang’a Ward).
