Natembeya Commissions First-of-Its-Kind Vocational Centre for Visually Impaired Learners in Trans Nzoia

 By Wasike Elvis

Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has commissioned and officially handed over the Mitoto Vocational Training Centre for the visually impaired to the County Government’s Department of Education and Vocational Training, marking a major milestone in efforts to expand inclusive education and skills development in the region.

The facility, which is located in Trans Nzoia County, was funded through support from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), in partnership with Deutsches Blindenhilfswerk, Ananse and Sallus Oculi Kenya.

The newly completed institution features classrooms, separate dormitories, a bakery, kitchen and other essential facilities designed to provide learners living with visual impairment with an environment where they can acquire both academic and practical skills.

The centre is among the first specialised vocational facilities of its kind in the region and is expected to serve learners from Trans Nzoia and neighbouring counties.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Governor Natembeya said the establishment of the facility would provide a major opportunity for learners living with visual impairment to acquire skills that can enable them to become self-reliant.

Natembeya said the county government was committed to ensuring that no learner is left behind because of a disability or other challenges.

“This facility is one of its kind in this region, and it is going to help empower our students living with these challenges. This is one of the ways of empowering them,” Natembeya said.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to promoting inclusive access to education and vocational training for all residents, regardless of their physical condition.

He said the county would continue working with development partners to strengthen institutions serving learners with special needs and create opportunities for them to acquire skills that can help them earn a living.

“Through our collaboration with our partners, we have been able to establish a world-class facility here. We are now looking into how to expand it further, including purchasing more land,” Natembeya said.

He said the county government envisions transforming Mitoto into a centre of excellence for learners living with visual impairment, serving not only Trans Nzoia but also the wider region.

“In the coming years, this will be a centre of excellence for learners living with visual impairment, not just for Trans Nzoia, but for the wider region,” he added.

The governor said investing in vocational education was particularly important because it equips learners with practical skills that can open doors to employment, entrepreneurship and independent livelihoods.

He further called for continued collaboration between the county government, development partners, parents and the local community to ensure that the facility achieves its intended purpose.

Centre Overcomes Years of Challenges

Mitoto Vocational Training Centre Board Chairperson Joyce Nakhanu said the institution had experienced numerous challenges while operating from its previous location.

Nakhanu said the support from development partners had transformed the institution and given it a new lease of life.

“Despite the challenges we had been facing at our previous station, we have finally seen light through the support of our partners,” Nakhanu said.

She said the new facility now provides adequate learning and accommodation spaces for students, including separate dormitories for boys and girls.

The centre’s facilities are expected to improve the learning environment while also providing learners with practical training opportunities in areas that can support their future livelihoods.

Nakhanu urged parents and members of the community with children living with visual impairment to take advantage of the facility and enrol them at the institution.

She warned that failure to utilise the facility would undermine the efforts and resources invested by the development partners and the County Government.

“It would be a big loss to the county, after our partners have put up such a massive facility, to miss out on learners,” she said.

She also appealed to the County Government, through the Department of Education and Vocational Training, to continue supporting the centre to ensure that learning activities operate smoothly and without interruptions.

Call for More Staff

Despite the new infrastructure, Nakhanu said the centre still requires additional human resources to fully meet the needs of learners.

“There is a need to employ more staff to support the facility,” she said.

She noted that specialised institutions serving learners with visual impairment require adequate numbers of trained personnel to provide effective teaching, guidance and support.

The appeal comes as the county government seeks to position the centre as a regional institution capable of accommodating learners from different parts of the country.

The commissioning of the Mitoto Vocational Training Centre represents a significant step towards strengthening inclusive education in Trans Nzoia and creating opportunities for learners living with visual impairment.

With the new classrooms, dormitories, bakery, kitchen and other facilities, the centre is expected to provide learners with both education and practical vocational skills while promoting independence and economic empowerment.

Governor Natembeya said his administration would continue seeking partnerships capable of expanding access to education and skills training, particularly for vulnerable groups and learners with special needs.

The county government is also exploring the possibility of acquiring additional land to facilitate future expansion of the institution.

If fully developed as envisioned, Mitoto Vocational Training Centre could become a major regional hub for vocational training and empowerment of people living with visual impairment, giving learners greater opportunities to pursue careers, start businesses and participate meaningfully in the economy.

The commissioning therefore marks not only the completion of a new facility but also the beginning of a broader effort to ensure that visual impairment does not become a barrier to education, skills acquisition and economic independence.