The National Government has commissioned Sh47 million state-of-the-art gemology equipment at the Taita Taveta National Polytechnic (TTNP), the first of its kind in Kenya.
The facility aims to bridge the skills gap in gemstone identification, grading, and value addition.
Speaking during the commissioning, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Principal Secretary (PS), Dr. Esther Muoria, hailed the initiative as a testament to the government’s unwavering commitment to empowering the youth and artisanal miners.
The equipment supported by Young Africa Works and funding from MasterCard Foundation through Colleges and Institute in Canada (CICAN) positions Taita Taveta National Polytechnic as a centre of excellence in gemology.
“With this new equipment, the Taita Taveta National Polytechnic is now equipped to produce graduates who can meet the global standards in the gemology industry. This is an exciting step forward for the TVET sector in Kenya, an inspiring act. Remember, even if we have a university involved in this or any other, the actual skills, the actual must-do people, will come from this institution, and therefore, it is very important that we take this with the seriousness that it deserves,” Dr. Muoria stated.
She disclosed that the polytechnic now offers gemology training at Levels 4, 5, and 6, with 34 students currently enrolled.
However, she challenged the institution to increase this number significantly, emphasising that the facility should be utilised to its full capacity.
“With only 34 students, we should be talking about 200 students using this lab, and that is how we will develop our community here and the country at large. Numbers matter,” she said.
The PS stated that the government has a target of enrolling two million students into TVET institutions nationwide by June next year, urging TTNP to ensure it plays its role in enrolling as many students as possible to achieve this target.
She emphasised the importance of increasing enrolment at the polytechnic, which currently has 3,400 students, and questioned why such a premier institution was falling short of its potential.
The PS issued a directive to the institution and local leaders to ensure more students, particularly from Taita Taveta County, are taking advantage of the training opportunities.
“I want you to realise that becoming a national polytechnic is a big challenge in itself. It is not just about getting the name; it is about doing what a National Polytechnic is supposed to do,” she emphasised.
Dr. Muoria highlighted the new equipment’s broader benefits, particularly for the region’s artisanal miners, who form the backbone of the county’s mining sector.
Taita Taveta County is home to over 40 types of high-value gemstones, including sapphire, garnets, and tourmaline. However, artisanal and small-scale miners face significant challenges, such as using traditional tools, lack of training, and limited market access.
“Through this centre of excellence in gemology, the local community, young men and women, and indeed all trainers will now be able to acquire the requisite technical training on suitable mining practices, acquire training in health and safety standards in mining, and acquire skills and knowledge on how to access competitive markets,” explained the PS, adding, I’ve just been told that we are already acquiring a requisite market in Canada, and there is nothing as good as training and doing industry with an end in mind. This is a step toward ensuring that our miners earn what they truly deserve,” she added.
The PS called for the elimination of middlemen who exploit miners, particularly women, by paying them low prices for their hard work. She stressed the importance of ensuring that miners benefit directly from the value of their gemstones.
“To the Governor, make sure we get rid of the middlemen and brokers because those women, sisters of mine there, and the daughters will do all the work; they will bring minerals here. We’ll be able to process them, and then the brokers will sell them and make the money, and the villagers will remain poor,” she said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Muoria issued a strong directive to reform how TVET examinations are conducted, insisting on the involvement of industry players in the certification process. She criticised the current assessment model, which she argued does not adequately reflect industry needs.
“We cannot have TVET assessments that exclude industry experts. The industry knows what skills are required, and they must be part of the training and certification process. This is non-negotiable,” she stated.
The PS further urged the polytechnic to continue developing relevant curricula in collaboration with industry stakeholders. She highlighted that 50 per cent of all TVET training must occur within the industry, to ensure graduates acquire practical skills.
“We cannot have examinations being carried out the way they were done in the yesteryears without industry certifying that what we are talking about is actually what is being done and what has been trained on those students,” said the PS.
“This institution is now a qualification-awarding body, which is a huge responsibility. The curricula, training, and assessment must all align with industry standards,” she added.
Dr. Muoria noted that the global mining industry is watching Kenya’s progress, emphasising that the polytechnic’s success could position the country as a leader in the gemology sector alongside other established mining nations such as Zimbabwe and South Africa.
“We have a unique opportunity to be serious and show the world that Kenya can compete globally. This lab is a milestone, and we must make the most of it,” she said.
As part of her broader vision for the TVET sector, Dr. Muoria revealed that the government is developing a funding model tailored for TVET institutions, stating that a framework has already been proposed to ensure financial sustainability.
“We have already come up with our suggested funding model. We have made a memo, and the cabinet memo is now with the CS. It is going to Cabinet before we go for Christmas so that we have our funding model ready,” she stated.
The PS also encouraged regional industries to support their employees in seeking certification through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program.
This initiative allows individuals with informal skills to be assessed and certified, further strengthening the local workforce.
Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime praised the initiative, describing it as a transformative moment for the county’s mining sector. A miner himself, the Governor acknowledged the significant knowledge gap that the new equipment would address.
“This is not just a gemology workshop; it is a revenue generator for our miners and the county at large,” Governor Mwadime said, adding that, “For years, we have mined gemstones without realising their full potential. With this equipment, we can add value and create opportunities for our people.”
The Governor also commended the collaboration between the polytechnic, Taita Taveta University, and the Ministry of Education and expressed optimism about the County’s future.
“Taita Taveta has a bright future. With the support of these institutions and the Ministry, we are reclaiming what we have lost for years. Let us continue working together to make this vision a reality,” he said.
By Arnold Linga Masila