MOMBASA, Kenya – Mombasa County has launched an ambitious vocational training programme targeting thousands of young people in a bid to address unemployment by linking them with accredited technical training institutions across the county.
The Elimu Scheme – Skills Mtaani programme will partner with more than 400 vocational training institutions to equip young people with practical skills in various trades before connecting graduates to internships, self-employment opportunities and the labour market.
Speaking during the registration of participating institutions, Governor Abdullswamad Sheriff Nassir said the initiative is part of the county government’s broader strategy to tackle youth unemployment by investing in skills that respond to labour market demands.
“The future of Mombasa will be built through skills,” Nassir said, adding that the county had already allocated funds for the programme and was keen to roll it out without delay.
“We need to employ our young people in different ways. Skills Mtaani is a practical programme, and we want to move with speed because the funds have already been allocated,” he said.
The programme will provide training in market-driven fields including carpentry, plumbing, electrical installation, welding, mechanics, information and communication technology (ICT), tailoring and fashion design, beauty therapy, baking and pastry, and other technical disciplines.
Accredited institutions only
Nassir said only accredited institutions would be allowed to participate in the programme, noting that the use of public funds required strict accountability and compliance with regulatory standards.
He encouraged institutions yet to complete their registration to do so before the programme begins, after which successful institutions will sign partnership agreements with the county government.
To improve transparency, applications will be processed through a digital platform where prospective trainees will register by scanning QR codes using their mobile phones. The system will verify applicants’ eligibility, display available training opportunities and monitor attendance electronically.
According to the governor, the digital platform will help ensure that county resources are directed only to active trainees while creating a database that can later support job placement initiatives.
Beyond training
The county also plans to support graduates through industrial attachments, internship opportunities and equipment grants financed through its revolving fund.
Nassir said beneficiaries interested in self-employment would receive support to acquire essential work tools, while those seeking overseas employment would benefit from recognised certification and proper documentation of their qualifications.
“The idea is to equip young people with skills, expose them to the workplace through internships and ultimately help them secure employment or create their own opportunities,” he said.
Backing
Education stakeholders welcomed the programme, describing it as a practical intervention that could help reduce unemployment among young people.
Muslim Education and Welfare Association (MEWA) education Chairperson Heri Abdulrahman Salim said the initiative would enable trainees to acquire skills needed to establish businesses or secure formal employment.
“This programme has the potential to transform many young lives by giving them practical skills that can generate income,” he said.
Human resource practitioner James Sareja urged the county to ensure persons with disabilities are fully included in the programme, saying many often miss similar opportunities because of limited access to information and digital technology.
He called on families to encourage persons with disabilities to enrol in vocational training and participate fully in economic empowerment initiatives.
The Skills Mtaani programme will be implemented in phases across Mombasa’s six sub-counties, with county officials expressing optimism that it will become one of the region’s flagship youth empowerment programmes.
