By Wasike Elvis

The KATTI South Rift Region TVET Fair is now underway at Kaiboi National Polytechnic, drawing together students, trainers, innovators, industry stakeholders and education leaders from across the region in a major celebration of technical skills, innovation and practical learning.

The event, hosted by the institution under the leadership of Chief Principal Abdi Tiony, has transformed the college grounds into a vibrant exhibition of creativity, technology and hands-on solutions developed by students from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.

Speaking during the official opening ceremony, Tiony described the fair as a powerful platform that reflects the changing face of education in Kenya, where practical skills, innovation and entrepreneurship are becoming central pillars in preparing young people for the future economy.

“Bright ideas are no longer trapped in notebooks. They are being tested, built and showcased at the KATTI South Rift Region TVET Fair,” said Tiony. “This is not just a fair. It is a collision point for talent, technology and transformation.”

The fair has brought together exhibitors from various TVET institutions across the South Rift region, with students showcasing projects in engineering, information communication technology, renewable energy, agribusiness, automotive engineering, fashion and design, hospitality, building technology and applied sciences.

Exhibition tents across the institution are filled with innovative prototypes, machines, software applications and environmentally sustainable solutions designed by students seeking to address real-life challenges facing communities and industries.

According to Tiony, the growing quality of projects being showcased at the fair demonstrates the rising importance of TVET education in driving industrial growth, youth empowerment and economic transformation in Kenya.

“The South Rift Region TVET Fair is shaping builders of tomorrow today,” he said. “The future is not waiting for graduation. It is being welded, coded, designed and presented right now here at Kaiboi National Polytechnic.”

He emphasized that modern TVET education has moved beyond traditional classroom learning and is now focused on competency-based training that equips students with practical experience, innovation skills and the confidence to create solutions for society.

Tiony noted that institutions participating in the fair are nurturing a generation of young people capable of creating jobs rather than waiting for employment opportunities.

“Our students are proving that innovation can emerge from workshops, laboratories and training halls,” he said. “They are developing technologies and solutions that can improve agriculture, manufacturing, health, energy and communication sectors.”

The Chief Principal further highlighted the importance of collaboration between TVET institutions and industry players, saying partnerships are critical in ensuring students acquire relevant and market-driven skills.

He said events such as the KATTI South Rift Region TVET Fair provide learners with an opportunity to interact with professionals, investors and employers while exposing them to emerging technologies and industry trends.

“This fair is giving our trainees confidence to believe in their abilities,” Tiony added. “It is also creating a platform where institutions can learn from one another and strengthen innovation within the TVET sector.”

Throughout the event, participants have been engaging in exhibitions, demonstrations, skills competitions and knowledge-sharing sessions aimed at promoting creativity and technical excellence among learners.

Among the highlights of the fair are student-built machines, smart farming technologies, renewable energy innovations, mobile applications and creative engineering projects that demonstrate the practical competencies being developed in TVET institutions.

Guests attending the fair commended the quality of innovations on display, noting that many of the projects have the potential to contribute significantly to national development and community transformation.

Industry stakeholders present at the event also praised TVET institutions for aligning training with the needs of the labor market and encouraging students to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship.

Tiony reaffirmed Kaiboi National Polytechnic’s commitment to supporting skills development, innovation and excellence in technical education.

“As a host institution, we are proud to provide a platform where talent can shine and ideas can grow,” he said. “TVET institutions are no longer viewed as second-choice pathways. They are becoming centers of innovation, research, creativity and industrial development.”

He further called on young people to embrace technical education as a pathway toward self-reliance, employment and national progress.

The ongoing KATTI South Rift Region TVET Fair continues to attract attention from educators, students and industry leaders, with many describing it as a significant milestone in promoting practical education and showcasing the immense potential within Kenya’s TVET sector.

As the exhibitions continue, one message remains clear throughout the fairgrounds: the future of innovation is already here, and it is being designed, engineered, coded and built by the hands of young TVET trainees determined to transform society through skills and creativity.