The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), in partnership with the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) through the Dual TVET Program today hosted a Hoteliers and Restaurants Stakeholder Forum in Nairobi. The forum brought together over 70 key decision makers in the hospitality sector including the owners of hotels and human resources to discuss the value to their businesses brought by collaborating and supporting industry-led skilling of the TVET students.

The Dual TVET Program is currently being implemented through the Ministry of Education, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development through GIZ Kenya; Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. This initiative aims to enhance skills development and workforce readiness among graduates in the country. The Program targets to equip over 6000 Kenyan youth with skills by the year 2026 and has partnered with over 60 TVET Institutions, currently having 600 students undergoing the Dual Training.

In a speech by Susan Ongalo, CEO, of Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) and Vice Chair of KEPSA Tourism sector board, that was read by Lovince Makala, stated that the Program was vital for the growth and sustainability of Kenya’s tourism and hospitality sector. “As an umbrella body for the private sector in tourism, hospitality, and travel, representing various associations including hoteliers and restaurateurs, our collective efforts are essential in driving initiatives like Dual TVET, which bridges the gap between education and practical industry needs. I urge all stakeholders to actively support this initiative by offering internships and apprenticeships to enhance valuable on-the-job training and improve the employability of the youth. Together we can ensure a skilled a ready workforce driving the future success of our industry,” emphasized Ms. Ongalo.

Giving key remarks during the forum, Priscilla Kerebi, Vice Chair of KEPSA’s Education Sector Board (TVET), acknowledged the uniqueness of each industry and its needs emphasizing the importance of industry-specific engagements to ensure a targeted approach to the enhancement of relevance and quality in industry participation to industry partnership. Additionally, she noted the importance of adequately trained and skilled personnel as important drivers of increasing competitiveness and growth of any business. The role of industry in this model has been transformed to promote co-ownership of skills development making the switch from training and placement to place and train.

Representing Dr. Ehud Gachugu, Global Director Ajira Digital, Youth and Jobs at KEPSA, was Gracemary Muchiri in the marketing and communication department who highlighted the key quests for such a TVET program pointing to the youth unemployment crisis in the country. Gracemary explained that about 2.97 million Kenyans are jobless with 50% of them being between the ages of 18 and 29 years. Gracemary noted that the leading cause of this crisis is the deficiency in employability skills among young people; however the TVET sector demonstrates a positive trajectory in eradicating this problem only if more investment is pointed towards the sector. The hotel industry, with its diverse operational needs, is uniquely positioned to provide a robust training ground for TVET students. By partnering with educational institutions, hotels offer real-world experience in areas such as hospitality management, culinary arts, housekeeping, and customer service. This ensures that the students acquire not only technical skills but also soft skills like communication and teamwork.

During the event, a presentation on the implementation and overview of the Dual TVET implementation in the country was presented by GIZ-Kenya. Different TVET institutions such as the Kibondeni Technical Vocational College had the opportunity to present some of their success stories on Dual TVET implementation. Lynda Kasina, Principal at the Kibondeni TVC painted a picture through her presentation on a case study of how such industry-skilling not only helps on practical skills for the young people but builds their confidence levels despite their diverse backgrounds. She added that it is an opportunity to unlearn and relearn what is expected by the industry.

In a bid to bridge the skills gap present in the current industry market, some of the solutions discussed by the stakeholders include practical engagement through hands-on learning through apprenticeships that allow individuals to gain real-world experience, providing mentorship to provide guidance and support in their career development and developing curricula based on industry needs ensuring that students are equipped with relevant skills for the workforce. Also discussed was the need to offer refresher courses for trainers to keep them updated on industry trends and best practices. Hoteliers on the other end were urged to open their doors to accommodate these talents as they will eventually benefit them with a fully equipped workforce. Through a panel session on the importance of collaboration between industry and TVET institutions, stakeholders were able to understand the needs present in the labour market and the need to remove outdated skills being taught in TVET institutions.

The Hoteliers and Restaurants Stakeholder forum also served as a platform for stakeholders to come together, exchange ideas, and forge alliances towards a common goal.The program continues to reimagine traditional onboarding processes, transforming classrooms into crucibles of innovation equipping trainees with skills, and mindsets needed to thrive in the ever-evolving modern workplace