The Mindset Gap
In Kenya, vocational training is often seen as a fallback option. Parents imagine their children in suits, working in offices, and holding degrees that signal prestige. Technical skills, on the other hand, are quietly dismissed as “Plan B.”
In Germany, the story is very different. Vocational education is not an afterthought but one of the strongest drivers of the economy. The label “Made in Germany,” stamped on cars, machines, and equipment, carries global respect. That reputation rests not only on engineers with university degrees but also on millions of skilled workers trained through one of the most robust vocational systems in the world.
Placed side by side, these two realities raise an important question: what can Kenya learn from Germany’s model to unlock new opportunities for its youth?
What Vocational Schooling Looks Like in Germany
In Germany, more than half of secondary school graduates choose the vocational path. Many start in their mid-teens, signing contracts with companies that make them both students and employees. They split their week between classroom learning and hands-on work, gaining skills while earning.
The classroom is not only about tools of the trade. It includes mathematics, languages, sports and even politics to shape well-rounded citizens. Then, in the workplace, students put theory into action fixing engines, baking bread, wiring buildings, serving in hospitals or preparing meals.
They earn while they learn, between €700 and €1,200 per month, depending on the trade and training year. Employers view this as an investment. After two to three and a half years, they sit for a national exam. Passing it means graduating as certified professionals; mechanics, bakers, hospitality managers, or electricians whose qualifications are respected across the country and beyond.
Factories, hotels, engineering firms, and hospitals in Germany rely on these vocational graduates every day. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reports that youth unemployment is just 7.7%, one of the lowest in the EU. This success rests on a simple truth: Skilled trades enjoy strong social recognition and clear career paths.
The Struggle of Kenyan VTCs
Now step into a Kenyan VTC. There are 1,114 of them across the country, training young people in carpentry, welding, tailoring, catering, mechanics, beauty therapy, and more. But the gaps are hard to miss. Workshops rely on outdated machines, classrooms lack basic supplies, and most trainers are left to stretch their creativity with limited resources, often without strong pedagogical skills.
VTCs are managed by county governments, but funding remains a persistent challenge. Kenya’s New Funding Model provides support to TVET trainees, yet it does not fully address the need for modern equipment at county-run centres. In the 2024 KUCCPS placement cycle, only about 76,000 students were admitted to TVET programmes, compared to 278,000 who joined degree programmes. This is occurring in a country where youth aged 15–34, who make up 35% of Kenya’s population, face an unemployment rate of 67% according to the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE).
Still, the students show up. They make furniture with blunt saws, practice catering in kitchens without ovens, and repair engines using improvised parts. Their determination is inspiring. But it should not take this much struggle to learn a trade.
The Career Caravan and Expo
As part of the International Youth Day 2025 celebrations under the theme ‘Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond,’ St. Martin CSA organised a career caravan from 11th to 16th August. The caravan covered Laikipia and parts of Nyandarua County, reaching over 6,000 people through stops in towns and villages. It showcased training opportunities at Nyahururu and Rumuruti VTCs, with the aim of promoting vocational training as a viable career path in carpentry, mechanics, catering, beauty therapy, and other trades. The initiative was followed by a career expo on 21st August in Rumuruti town, hosted by Rumuruti VTC in partnership with St. Martin CSA. During the event, students and trainers showcased products such as furniture, handbags, and dresses, displayed equipment, demonstrated practical skills, and presented available courses to help positively shift community attitudes toward vocational education.
At St. Martin CSA, we believe dignity and opportunity go hand in hand. Our mission is clear: a just society where communities uphold the dignity and respect the voices of vulnerable and marginalised people. That is why we are working to humanise and strengthen VTCs by:
- Partnering with the Laikipia County Government to shape policy for better TVETs.
- Equipping youth for both work and self-employment by anchoring soft skills in the curriculum.
- Running attitude change campaigns to promote vocational training as a respected career path through public awareness and advocacy.
- Upgrading facilities and workshops with modern equipment to support competency-based training.
- Building strong partnerships between VTCs and industries to open doors for internships, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities.
Kenya’s Turning Point
Germany’s excellence in manufacturing, engineering, and hospitality rests on the strength of its vocational system. Kenya has the same potential, but only if we stop treating vocational training as second-class. Vocational training can give young people the skills and confidence to build a better future for themselves and the country. When we modernize VTCs, connect them with industries, and support both trainers and students, we prepare a workforce that can create, innovate and compete on the world stage. This is how we reduce youth unemployment, grow the economy and bring stability to our communities. The difference will be felt not only in individual lives but in the direction our country takes.
