Residents of Matungu Sub-County in Kakamega County have welcomed the ongoing construction of Matungu Technical and Vocational College (TVC), saying the institution is already transforming the local economy while creating new opportunities for young people.
The college is expected to bring technical and vocational training closer to families in Matungu, reducing the cost of sending students to institutions located far from home.
Raphael Welimo, a teacher from Matungu, said the development of the education sector under the current administration had given teachers and parents renewed hope.
Welimo recalled that teachers had struggled in previous regimes due to low pay, limited access to allowances and difficulties securing loans from financial institutions.
He said parents also carried a significant burden in supporting schools, including through Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) contributions to construct classrooms and improve learning facilities.
According to Welimo, the situation has changed with increased government investment in education infrastructure and staff development.
He cited the recruitment of young graduates as intern teachers as an important step in giving unemployed graduates hope and helping strengthen the teaching workforce.
Welimo also welcomed reforms in teacher training colleges and government support for teachers, including access to affordable housing.
As a parent, he said he was also encouraged by assurances that university students would continue to access opportunities despite challenges in paying fees.
“President William Ruto has set a strong pace in education,” Welimo said, arguing that future administrations would be judged against the progress being made in the sector.
College creates local opportunities
For residents living near the Matungu TVC project, the benefits are already being felt even before the institution is completed.
Elizabeth Auma Ekesa said the college had brought technical training closer to the community and would enable parents to save money that would otherwise be spent on transport and accommodation for students studying far from home.
She said the construction project had also created employment and business opportunities for residents.
“People can earn from work at the site, sell vegetables and other items, and use that income to support food at home and children’s education,” Ekesa said.
She added that students who acquire practical skills such as tailoring, catering and other technical courses would have better opportunities to secure employment or start their own businesses.
Godfrey Nyangule, a resident of Nambereka Village near the project, said the college was already having an economic impact on the area.
He said young people had secured jobs at the construction site, while women were earning income by supplying water to workers.
Nyangule also said property values in the area had started rising as the institution attracted attention and development.
He expects the college to further transform the area once completed by creating demand for shops, accommodation, M-Pesa businesses and other services required by students and staff.
The institution is also expected to provide a ready market for local farmers who can supply vegetables, milk and other food products.
Skills to address youth unemployment
Nyangule said the college would give young people access to practical skills such as plumbing and other technical trades that can provide sustainable incomes.
He said some skilled workers could earn more from technical jobs than in certain white-collar careers, making vocational training an important pathway for young people seeking employment.
Residents said the institution would also help address the challenges faced by families after the decline of Mumias Sugar, which had previously served as a major source of income for many households in the region.
With the sugar industry no longer providing the same economic opportunities, many families have struggled to meet school fees and have had to rely on government bursaries and other forms of support.
Another resident, Ekesa, said many young people had wanted to pursue courses in areas such as engineering, carpentry and catering but were unable to travel far because of tuition, transport and accommodation costs.
He said the new college would allow students from Matungu and neighbouring areas to pursue technical training closer to their families.
Youth welcome the project
Joseph Odunga, a Form Four leaver from the area, said the construction of the college had already provided hope to young people.
He said some youths were earning daily wages from construction work, while women were benefiting by preparing food for workers and expanding small businesses.
Odunga said completion of the institution would give young people who cannot afford to study far from home an opportunity to pursue courses such as electrical engineering, catering and other short technical programmes.
He also expects the college to create employment opportunities within its departments and stimulate demand for housing, food and other services.
Residents believe the project will accelerate development in Matungu by attracting businesses and improving access to technical skills.
They are also hopeful that the area will receive electricity to support the expected growth, saying reliable power would be critical for businesses and technical training.
The residents said the college represents more than an education facility, describing it as a potential catalyst for jobs, skills development, business growth and improved household incomes in Matungu.
Read: USIU-Africa Launches Dual Vocational Training for Pharmaceutical Production Specialists
>>> Varsities Challenged to Turn Research into Enterprises
Leave a comment