The government has intensified efforts to empower workers in Kenya’s informal sector through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme, an initiative aimed at certifying skills acquired outside formal education systems.
Speaking in Mombasa Principal Secretary Labour and Skills Development Shadrack Mwadime said the programme targets artisans and youth who have practical, hands-on experience but lack academic certification.
“We want every young person out there to gain from the programmes we have introduced,” Mwadime said. “If you have skills and experience and are already engaged in a certain business—whether as a mechanic, mason, beautician or in any other trade—we want to certify those skills.”
The RPL programme seeks to recognize, assess and formally certify competencies gained through informal or non-formal training. Successful candidates are issued with government-recognized certificates, improving their employability both locally and internationally, including opportunities in labour markets such as Europe and Canada.
According to Mwadime, the initiative is aligned with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which prioritizes inclusive growth, job creation and reduction of youth unemployment. Implementation of the programme is being carried out through the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) in collaboration with the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA).
Skills being assessed include masonry, electrical installation, plumbing, motor vehicle mechanics, beauty therapy and computer repair, among others. Mwadime revealed that interest in the programme has been overwhelming.
When the government initially advertised the RPL component under the NYOTA programme, more than 40,000 applications were received.
Following a presidential directive to extend the application window by an additional one to two months, a further 20,000 applications were submitted.
“In total, we are talking about nearly 68,000 applicants,” he said.
Currently, the programme aims to certify 20,000 artisans, supported through a partnership with the World Bank. However, Mwadime emphasized that certification will continue beyond the lifespan of the current project, as RPL falls under NITA’s core mandate.
“We have mobilized staff from various TVET institutions across the country to undertake the screening,” Mwadime said.
Following screening, applicants will be required to submit a Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) between February 2 and 6. The evidence—pictorial or otherwise—will be used to verify applicants’ competencies.
This will be followed by summative assessments, including oral and written examinations, although accommodations will be made for candidates with limited formal education.
“We will not put too much emphasis on written exams for those who may have dropped out at early stages of schooling,” he noted. “We want to examine them based on their actual capabilities.”
The programme has been allocated Ksh 229 million, funding the nationwide exercise across vocational training centres located in every constituency.
