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NMG Higher Education Fair spotlights skill gaps
Principal Secretary for the State Department for TVET in the Ministry of Education, Dr Esther Thaara Muoria, delivers her keynote address during the Higher Education Fair and Skills Expo 2026 at the Sarit Centre Expo, Nairobi, on January 29, 2026.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
A mismatch between skills graduates possess and the job market contribute to the high unemployment rate among Kenyan youth, according to senior officials of the Ministry of Education.
The Principal Secretary for the State Department for TVET Dr Esther Thaara Muoria and her Higher Education counterpart Dr Beatrice Inyangala called on tertiary institutions to align their training to market demands and international best practice.
The two spoke yesterday during 18th edition of the Higher Education Fair & Skills Expo 2026 that is hosted by the Nation Media Group.
The two-day expo that ends today (Friday) features universities, TVET institutions, private sector partners, and career advisory services, providing students and parents opportunities to explore academic and vocational programs, mentorship, and practical pathways into employment.
“Training is now embedded in actual production processes. Trainees work with modern equipment, meet quality standards, observe timelines, and respond to real market demand. These institutional production units ensure skills are developed, tested, and validated in commercially relevant settings,” said Dr Muoria, who was the keynote speaker during the opening ceremony.
“Employers report persistent skills gaps, pointing to a paradox of jobs without graduates and at the same time graduates without jobs in certain fields. This mismatch tells a story of misalignment of careers and jobs. It contributes to the crisis of youth unemployment,” said Dr Inyangala in her speech read by the CEO of the Universities Fund, Dr Edwin Wanyonyi.
She stressed that career guidance is essential to ensure young people make informed choices that align with labour market demands.
“Career guidance is about equipping learners to decide wisely. It is about transforming aspiration into strategy. It is about ensuring that talent does not wander blindly but is channeled deliberately into sectors that build the economy from the bottom up from artisans and technologists, to engineers, teachers, researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs,” she said.
Dr Muoria, emphasised the importance of practical skills and industry alignment in preparing students for both local and global employment opportunities.
“If education is the key, then TVET is the master key, because it converts knowledge into practical skills, productivity, and economic opportunity. Access without relevance is incomplete. Equity without employability is unsustainable. Quality without strong alignment to industry demand is insufficient,” said Dr Muoria.
She highlighted Kenya’s progress in expanding TVET access from 350,000 trainees in 2022 to approximately 900,000. She also underscored the importance of the competency-based education and training (CBET), which focuses on demonstrable skills rather than time spent in class.
“Across the country, institutions are establishing industry-like production units where trainees learn in real manufacturing, construction, hospitality, automotive, ICT, and emerging green production environments. Skills are developed, tested, and validated within commercially relevant settings,” Dr Muoria explained.
The Managing Director and CEO of Nation Media Group Geoffrey Odundo said that the media group’s role extends beyond organizing the expo, highlighting its responsibility to amplify youth voices and promote skills development.
“Education remains one of our most powerful levers for social mobility, economic resilience, and national cohesion. Yet we face challenges: rapid technological change, automation, artificial intelligence, and demographic shifts are redefining the skills required for the workforce,” he said.
The CEO also underlined the challenges facing young Kenyans today, including high youth unemployment, persistent skills mismatches, and the need to align education pathways with a rapidly changing world of work defined by technology, automation, and artificial intelligence.
“The next two days bring together the government, educators, trainees, teachers, industry, parents, and learners to explore which skills matter, what pathways remain, and how we ensure young people are not only properly educated but also adaptable and confident in navigating the future,” he added.
“Through our platforms, we create space for debate, reflection, and accountability. We support practical interventions that strengthen learning outcomes, build confidence, and prepare young people for life beyond the classroom,” he said.
