Sylvia Jelagat Kemboi. Event, walking Race. Sylvia Jelagat who was pursuing a course in secretarial studies at Kaiboi national polytechnic emerged victorious during the South Rift regional athletics championships held at Rvist, Nakuru in 2022 and later re-presented the region at the national championship at the Nyayo National stadium later in the year emerging victorious as well. She was selected to represent KATTI during the Athletics Kenya National championship cum trials for the African senior athletics championships. She managed position 1 and represented Kenya at the African senior athletics championships which was held Mauritius. She finished 3rd overall picking a bronze medal. Sylvia later moved to Kaptagat high altitude training centre to try and improve on her speed and endurance. This resulted in her qualifying for the All African Games that was staged in Ghana in 2023 where she managed a silver medal. Currently, Sylvia's ambition is to represent Kenya in the upcoming world championship and the Los Angeles Olympic games 2028.

The following trainees of The Eldoret National Polytechnic were recruited to the Kenya Defence Forces through sports after their competition at the KATTI Athletics National championship as well as AK participation (2025)

In 2024, after KATTI Nationals held at Eregi, Daniel Kiplagat of The Eldoret National Polytechnic was recruited through sports to KWS.

Nairobi, Kenya 13 March 2026- Forty-nine Kenyan students graduated from a pilot IOM-led hospitality training programme that meets international standards, marking a life‑changing achievement for each graduate as they take their next step toward meaningful employment. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), through the Better Regional Migration Management Programme and with funding from the United Kingdom's Government Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), in partnership with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), supported hospitality training for graduates. This training was delivered with the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (WSHA) Employability internationally recognized programme, focusing on hospitality skills and career development.

This initiative enabled young participants to develop essential competencies required for success in the global hospitality sector and address the growing demand for skilled professionals. Over the course of a three-month blended curriculum, combining foundational instruction with practical application, 49 students acquired the expertise necessary to excel within the hospitality industry. The program also provided training to 11 tutors from Kabete National Polytechnic and Kenya Coast National Polytechnic, all from the hospitality department. These tutors are now equipped to train more young people to meet both local and international skilled labor demands in the hospitality sector. Dr. Tom Olang’o, Representative for Secretary, State Department for Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) says, “we are not only celebrating an achievement, but a success of powerful partnership between government, international organization, and private sector, and training institutions”.

IOM Kenya’s Chief of Mission, Nomagugu Ncube, says “today, we celebrate the creation of an option; a viable, dignified option for young Kenyans to build global careers right here at home, with a pathway to the world through a public and private sector engagement and partnership.”

The IOM-WSHA pilot Employability Program not only bridges the gap between education and employment but also fosters collaboration between training institutions and the hospitality industry. This initiative strengthens the workforce development in sustainable tourism and has already achieved a 100 per cent transition rate to industrial placement for its graduates, who are now working in prestigious hotels across Nairobi and Mombasa. “Today we celebrate you and your achievement” says Ms. Shiksha Khemani, Program Manager, World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.

Mr. Joel Mwanzia, Secretary Labour Migration, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection says, “the collaboration between IOM and WSHA is timely for the Kenyan governments labour migration, as we focus on opening new markets through Bilateral Labour Migration Agreements (BLMAs). These are efforts towards employment creation and promotion for youth migration to be done in an ethical way to accord with international labour standards.”

As part of its commitment to sustainability and ethical labour practices, IOM and WSHA are actively engaging with employers, governments, recruiters and other stakeholders in countries of destination, creating pathways for skilled labour mobility to international markets, including Jordan and Mauritius.

The employability programme advances Kenya’s Vision 2030 and Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) by tackling youth unemployment through demand- driven TVET training in hospitality, based on the WSHA curriculum. It operationalizes the IOM Strategic Plan 2024-2028 by facilitating pathways for regular migration, while embedding ethical recruitment principles to protect migrant workers' rights and dignity throughout the labour mobility process.

The process of rebranding Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) centers to meet the ever-changing market demand has kicked off.

Principal Secretary, State Department for TVETs, Dr. Esther Muoria made the remarks during a tree planting drive in Trans Nzoia County, where she revealed the move will pave the way for the establishment of industries within TVET institutions across the country.

Dr. Muoria said the process, which has seen the approval of the Cabinet, will ensure an enabling environment for trainees to acquire hands-on practical skills and also help strengthen the link between training institutions and industries by ensuring students graduate with skills that directly meet labour market demands.

The PS pointed out that Kitale National Polytechnic, which has one of the largest automotive training garages in the region, allowing students to acquire practical mechanical skills using modern equipment, is among institutions expected to benefit from the initiative due to its advanced training infrastructure.

“We are rebranding TVET institutions by bringing investors and industries closer to our trainees. We are engaging industries to tell us the type of graduates they need so that TVETs can produce them,” she said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Muoria revealed that several institutions have signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with companies, including paint manufacturers such as Crown Paints and Kenya Seed Company, to support practical demonstrations and ensure students are trained on the entire production chain from A to Z.

On TVET enrolment, the PS said the government has recorded a remarkable increase, which has grown from 297,000 trainees to over 800,000 across the country.

However, she added the government targets to increase the numbers to two million trainees by the end of 2026, reflecting on the growing recognition of technical skills as a driver of economic growth.

Hailing the national government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, which has fully taken shape at the grassroots, Dr. Muoria said the projects which have been rolled out have created employment opportunities for thousands of TVET trainees.