Bungoma Senator David Wakoli addressing graduates at Kibabii Vocational Training Centre in Tuuti–Marakaru Ward, Kanduyi Constituency….Photo/IP
By IP Reporter | Bungoma (IP)
BUNGOMA, Kenya
Bungoma Senator David Wakoli on Friday urged Governor Kenneth Makelo Lusaka and the Bungoma County Government to prioritize funding for vocational training centres, saying they are essential for equipping young people with practical skills and reducing unemployment.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony of Kibabii Vocational Training Centre in Tuuti–Marakaru Ward, Kanduyi Constituency, Wakoli said the scrapping of bursary and scholarship funds for secondary and tertiary levels had left many learners vulnerable, calling for deliberate investment in devolved institutions.
Wakoli said he joined the graduands to celebrate their remarkable achievements and to challenge the county to rethink its education priorities.
“I urge Governor Ken Makelo Lusaka and the County Government of Bungoma to develop a deliberate plan to support students in vocational training centres,” Wakoli said.
“While the bursary and scholarship funds for secondary and tertiary levels have been scrapped, there is a pressing need for the county to channel resources towards these devolved institutions.”
He noted that vocational training centres play a vital role in empowering youth with practical skills for self-reliance and job creation, adding that supporting them is a long-term investment in the county’s future.
“Supporting them is investing in the future of our county,” he added.
Governor Lusaka, who also attended the event, acknowledged the senator’s call and said his administration would strengthen the county’s support for vocational training.
He said the county government was reviewing its education budget to ensure vocational institutions received adequate funding, describing technical skills as the backbone of sustainable development.
“We recognise that equipping our youth with technical and vocational skills is non-negotiable if we are to address unemployment and build sustainable livelihoods,” Lusaka said. “Our focus will widen to ensure that vocational institutions receive meaningful support — not as an afterthought, but as a central pillar of our education strategy.”
The governor added that his administration was exploring partnerships with the national government and development agencies to equip training centres with modern tools and to create a bursary program for needy students.
“We want our young people to know that vocational skills are not a last resort,” Lusaka said. “They are a foundation for innovation, self-employment, and economic transformation.”
Education stakeholders and parents present at the event commended both leaders for their commitment to improving vocational training, saying the renewed focus could help unlock youth potential and drive economic growth across Bungoma County.
