Vihiga senator Osotsi raises alarm over struggling TVET institutions
Vihiga County Senator Godfrey Osotsi, who also serves as the Orange Democratic Movement Deputy Leader, on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, urged the government to review how vocational training centres are being funded.
Speaking in the Senate when he rose to contribute to a point of order shortly after Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna touched on the same matter, Osotsi said it is worrying to see Technical and Vocational Education and Training centres in many parts of Kenya struggling to stay open.
You might also like
Also watch: Senator Osotsi clashes with MP Milemba over teachers’ welfare concerns
Funding shift to counties
Osotsi explained that vocational centres are essential because they give skills to young people who do not make it to universities or higher levels of learning.
He said, “Vocational training centres are very critical institutions in this country. It is a way of managing youths’ problems in Kenya.”
He recalled that in earlier years, the national government directly supported the institutions through capitation. However, that role was later handed to the counties.
“A few years back, we had an arrangement where the national government supported them via capitation, and that was left to the county governments,” the Senator told the Senate.
Strain on TVET institutions
The senator warned that county governments have limited resources and are unable to sustain the institutions at the same level.
He added, “County governments are unable to fund these important institutions, and it is sad that some have already closed down.”
According to him, the collapse of training centres denies thousands of young people a chance to gain skills that could reduce joblessness and crime.
Also watch: Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi calls out tribal political leaders
He said the government should urgently find ways to strengthen the system so that no youth is left behind.
Osotsi ended his submission by urging both levels of government to work together and restore proper support for vocational training.
He said, “Those who cannot manage to join universities and higher levels of education can join these village TVETs, but we are seeing a trend where these vocational training centres are collapsing due to funding issues.”
