Kiharu Technical and Vocational College has launched an aggressive drive to push its enrolment beyond 2,000 students, seeking to position technical training as a key weapon against youth unemployment and the growing demand for job-ready skills.
The college, which opened in September 2023 with about 300 students, has grown its population to nearly 1,750 learners. But the rapid growth has now stalled, prompting the institution to turn to the surrounding community for help in attracting more young people ahead of the September intake.
Principal Dr Daniel Wahungu said the college had the infrastructure, equipment and trainers needed to accommodate more students but could not achieve its expansion targets without the backing of the community.
He spoke during a public participation forum attended by national government administration officers, community leaders, boda boda representatives, religious leaders, community health promoters and other stakeholders.
“We wanted the community to understand the CBET model of training, the changes taking place in TVET and, most importantly, to support us in increasing enrolment during the September intake,” Dr Wahungu said.
The meeting sought to break the traditional perception that technical colleges are meant for students who fail to qualify for university.
Instead, Dr Wahungu said, TVET was rapidly changing into a practical training system designed to produce graduates with skills that can be immediately applied in the workplace.
He said the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) model was helping shift the focus from purely theoretical learning to hands-on competence.
“Those who are used to the old training model now understand that when a student comes to TVET, they get into practical training. The community has embraced this approach,” he said.
The college is also promoting dual training, which allows students to gain workplace exposure by combining classroom instruction with practical experience in industry.
Dr Wahungu said local businesses and cottage industries could play a crucial role by providing students with opportunities for practical attachment.
The push for higher enrolment comes as Kenya grapples with a growing number of young people entering the labour market without the technical skills demanded by employers.
Kiharu TVC says it wants to be part of the solution by producing graduates who can either secure employment or create their own businesses.
The college has expanded its curriculum to include electrical and electronics, building and civil engineering, mechanical and automotive engineering, computing and informatics, hospitality, cosmetology, fashion and design, social work, tourism management and business courses.
It has also ventured into emerging areas such as artificial intelligence through its computing and informatics programmes.
The institution offers short courses as well as Recognition of Prior Learning programmes for workers who possess practical skills but lack formal certification.
Dr Wahungu said certification had become increasingly important in a labour market where employers were demanding proof of competence.
The college’s expansion has been backed by new infrastructure and equipment.
The institution recently launched the Mwai Kibaki Tuition Block and has expanded its workshops. It has also received more than 20 additional trainers.
Dr Wahungu said the college was now better placed to increase its student population beyond 2,000 and eventually achieve its long-term target of more than 3,000 learners.
“We have the infrastructure, trainers, equipment and government backing. We are ready to grow,” he said.
But the principal said the college’s ambition went beyond producing technically competent graduates.
He said students were also being prepared to develop character, soft skills and talents that would help them navigate the workplace and society.
“We want our students to have hands-on skills, good character and soft skills. We also want them to develop their talents,” he said.
The college’s campaign has received backing from local administrators who say the community must take ownership of the institution and help create an environment where students can learn and thrive.
An Assistant County Commissioner said residents had agreed to work with the college to increase enrolment, protect students and address challenges affecting their welfare.
The administrator said government support through student loans and bursaries had made technical education more accessible, particularly to learners from vulnerable households.
The community also pledged to help fight drug abuse and other social problems that could undermine students’ education.
Senior Chief Stephen Komu said the college had become an important economic engine for the surrounding community.
Since its establishment, he said, students had created new business opportunities for landlords, food vendors, milk suppliers, retailers and transport operators.
“Students pay rent and buy food, milk and other commodities from the local community. We have benefited economically from the TVET,” Mr Komu said.
He said residents had embraced the institution and were encouraging their children to enrol.
Former Gaturi Ward councillor Francis Kahia Kamau said community leaders would act as ambassadors for the college by encouraging young people to pursue technical training.
He said the community would also support the institution on security and help provide guidance to students living in the area.
Mr Kamau said TVET should no longer be regarded as a second choice for young people who do not proceed to university.
“Those who do not go to university have a better chance when they join TVET. They acquire skills that are useful in everyday life and contribute to the growth of the country,” he said.
Boda boda operators also pledged to support the college, saying the rising student population had created new business opportunities for riders.
Duncan Gituro Maina, a coordinator in the boda boda sector, said riders transported students and staff while also helping to connect the institution with the surrounding community.
He urged riders to protect students and treat them as neighbours and members of the community.
Mr Maina also encouraged boda boda operators to enrol in the college’s short automotive mechanics courses to improve their ability to maintain and repair their motorcycles.
However, the anticipated increase in student numbers has also raised concerns over security, accommodation and student welfare.
Kaweru Police Station OCS Daniel Ochwangi warned that increased demand for admission could create tension if the number of applicants exceeded available spaces.
He called for strict adherence to admission procedures and transparency to prevent conflicts.
“Where the available positions are finished, they are finished. Let us follow the procedures that have been set so that we can bring order and sanity,” Mr Ochwangi said.
The police boss also warned that a growing population of young people could bring social challenges if students were not properly guided and protected.
He raised concerns over substance abuse, fights, sexual and gender-based violence and early pregnancies, urging the college, parents, landlords, religious leaders and the community to work together.
Mr Ochwangi called for stronger mentorship and moral guidance for students who were transitioning into adulthood and living away from their families for the first time.
He also urged landlords to provide clean, secure and safe accommodation, particularly for female students.
The police boss further asked boda boda operators to maintain professional relationships with students and avoid exploiting their interactions with young learners.
Kiharu TVC public relations officer Victor Ndolo said the college had opened communication channels to enable residents to raise concerns and engage directly with the institution.
He said the community was an important partner in the college’s growth and should feel part of its success.
The September intake will now test whether the new partnership between the college and the community can translate into higher enrolment.
For Kiharu TVC, the battle is no longer simply about filling classrooms. It is about convincing a generation facing an uncertain jobs market that practical skills, digital competence and technical training can offer a direct route into employment and entrepreneurship.
And with the college targeting more than 2,000 students in the next phase of its growth, its management is betting that the community will help turn that ambition into reality.
