State conducts first TVET census since Independence

The government is undertaking the first nationwide census of TVET institutions since Independence to boost skills development and support evidence-based planning and investment.

Economic Planning Principal Secretary Boniface Makokha said the nationwide mapping and census of TVET institutions and other colleges is meant to establish their capacity, infrastructure and enrolment levels.

The exercise, which began on May 20, is targeting public and private TVETs, Teachers Training Colleges (TTCs), Kenya Medical Training Colleges (KMTCs) and driving schools across the country.

Makokha said the survey will generate critical data needed to guide future investment, policy formulation and institutional support.

“The data to be collected will include institutional location, governance, enrolment by course and gender, staffing levels, infrastructure, accreditation status, digital readiness, research and partnerships, and alignment with labour market demand,” Makokha said.

The PS said both Kenya’s Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) recognise that sustained economic growth depends on a skilled, adaptable and productive workforce.

“We cannot plan what we cannot measure, and we cannot address gaps that have not been clearly mapped. This census is not merely about counting institutions; it is about building the evidence base that will guide policy, investment, regulation and institutional support for years to come,” he said.

The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) is conducting the exercise, which seeks to collect data that will inform policy decisions, investment priorities, regulation and institutional development.

KNBS has deployed 150 research assistants under the supervision of 41 field supervisors to carry out the nationwide census and mapping exercise.

Speaking during the official launch of the 2026 Mapping and Census of TVET Institutions, KNBS director general Macdonald Obudho said the exercise aims to establish enrolment levels in public and private colleges, staffing capacity, infrastructure and the availability of training equipment.

“Meaningful investment in skills development requires credible data. These colleges are central to the country’s development because they equip people with practical and market-relevant knowledge needed to drive industry, healthcare, infrastructure, entrepreneurship and transport,” Obudho said.

High-quality statistics will help Kenya build a skills development ecosystem that is equitable, responsive, well-coordinated and aligned with the needs of the economy.

Obudho said the evidence generated would provide the foundation for sound economic planning, credible monitoring of development outcomes and effective service delivery.

“The fieldwork, which is expected to take 40 days, should be guided by one clear objective: ensuring every eligible institution in every county is counted and that the data produced is accurate, timely, credible and useful,” he said.

The survey is being undertaken by KNBS in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, TVETA, TVET-CDACC, KNEC, KMTC, NTSA, the Council of Governors and other stakeholders.