Housing Finance unveils massive training programme

Housing Finance has unveiled a massive training program targeting 1 million youths in technical and vocal training institutions (TVET).

The project dubbed ‘Army of 1 million artisans’ flagship project’ seeks to offer formal skills to artisans in the construction sector.

The programme, which will be conducted through the firm’s newly launched foundation - Housing Finance Foundation, is established in line with social pillar goals stipulated in the Kenya Vision 2030.

The move makes the private mortgage lender the first private institution to run a vision 2030 project.

The firm will train 250,000 artisans annually in a time stretch of four years.

“Technical and vocational education and training is the weakest link in the entire education system yet we require a skilled workforce to roll out projects identified in Vision 2030,” said Housing Finance MD Frank Ireri said during the launch of the program in Eldoret.

The 1 million trained youths will bring reprieve to a sector that is currently booming with multi-billion projects yet has few qualified artisans like plumbers and painters.

Housing Finance also intends to develop a data bank of certified artisans which firms can refer to when sourcing for various services. Currently firms toil to find qualified artisans with many making do with referrals.

The Ministry of higher education revived public interest in technical and vocational training and education last year through the introduction of Technical and vocational Education and Training Act 2012.

The bill seeks to shift TVET from time-bound curriculum based training to flexible and competency based training.