By Wasike Elvis 

 A total of 294 students have graduated through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme at The Eldoret National Polytechnic, marking a significant milestone in efforts to recognise practical skills and prepare a competent workforce for Kenya’s growing economy.

The institution’s Chief Principal, Dr Charles Koech, congratulated the graduands for successfully completing the RPL process, describing their achievement as a demonstration of determination, hard work and commitment to professional growth.

Dr Koech said the programme provides an important pathway for individuals who have acquired skills and experience through years of practical work to have their competencies assessed, validated and formally recognised.

He noted that many Kenyans possess valuable technical and professional skills gained outside the conventional classroom environment but often face challenges when seeking employment or pursuing further education because they lack formal certification.

Through RPL, such individuals are given an opportunity to demonstrate what they know and can do, allowing their skills and experience to be matched with recognised qualifications.

Dr Koech congratulated the 294 graduands for a job well done and encouraged them to use their qualifications to pursue new opportunities, improve their livelihoods and contribute to the development of their communities.

He said the institution remains committed to equipping learners with relevant skills that respond to the needs of industry and the changing labour market.

The graduation ceremony also brought together stakeholders in the tourism, hospitality, technical training and enterprise development sectors, highlighting the growing demand for skilled personnel as Eldoret expands its economic footprint.

Representing Uasin Gishu Governor Dr Jonathan Bii Chelilim as the chief guest, CECM Trade, Industrialization, Tourism, Cooperatives and Enterprise Development Dr Philip Zeal Chebunet said the graduation was timely, particularly as Eldoret continues to position itself as a modern city and a regional tourism and business hub.

Chebunet said the rapid growth of the hospitality industry has created an increasing demand for workers with the right technical competencies, professionalism and practical experience.

He said the county's transformation will require a skilled workforce capable of taking advantage of emerging opportunities in tourism, hospitality, investment, trade and enterprise development.

According to Chebunet, Recognition of Prior Learning is important because it goes beyond issuing certificates by acknowledging the experience and abilities people have gained throughout their working lives.

He said the programme helps validate skills, restore dignity and open new opportunities for beneficiaries who may have previously struggled to have their practical competencies recognised.

Chebunet commended the Tourism Fund for supporting the initiative, saying its contribution would help strengthen the human resource required to support the hospitality and tourism sectors.

He also praised the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) for its role in developing and aligning curricula with the skills required in the workplace.

He noted that training institutions must continue responding to changes in the economy by ensuring that programmes produce graduates who are ready to meet industry expectations.

“A growing city requires a skilled workforce. A tourism destination requires world-class hospitality. A transforming economy requires empowered people,” Chebunet said.

He said Eldoret is well positioned to continue attracting investment and business as infrastructure, tourism, sports and other sectors expand, but stressed that human capital development must remain at the centre of the city's transformation.

Chebunet added that Uasin Gishu County, under Governor Jonathan Bii's leadership, is focused on harnessing opportunities in tourism, hospitality, investment, enterprise development and human capital development to improve the livelihoods of residents.

He said empowering residents with relevant skills will enable more people to participate in the county's economic growth rather than remain spectators as new opportunities emerge.

The RPL graduation comes as Eldoret continues to strengthen its profile as a key urban centre in the North Rift, with the city increasingly hosting major business, sporting, educational and tourism activities.

The hospitality sector is expected to play an important role in supporting this growth, creating demand for trained personnel in hotels, restaurants, conference facilities, travel services and other tourism-related enterprises.

For the 294 graduands, the ceremony marked the culmination of a process that formally recognises skills acquired through experience while giving them an opportunity to compete more effectively in the labour market.

The graduates are now expected to use their recognised competencies to seek employment, advance their careers, establish enterprises or pursue additional training.

Dr Koech and Chebunet both emphasised the need for continued collaboration between training institutions, government agencies and industry stakeholders to ensure that Kenya's workforce remains relevant to emerging economic opportunities.

The graduation therefore represents more than an academic achievement. It signals continued efforts to ensure that practical experience is valued, skills are formally recognised and residents are empowered to participate in Kenya's evolving economy.

With Eldoret's ambitions as a modern city and regional tourism and business hub continuing to grow, stakeholders say a skilled and adaptable workforce will remain critical to turning that vision into reality.