By Andrew Mbuva.
Machakos University is set to receive a major boost in technical education following the launch of a KSh120 million Smart Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Smart TVET) Centre, a project fully funded by the M-PESA Foundation.
The state-of-the-art facility is expected to transform skills training in the Lower Eastern region by equipping young people with industry-relevant competencies to enhance their employability and entrepreneurship.
Speaking during the foundation stone laying ceremony, Safaricom PLC Coast Region General Manager Jackson Mutua confirmed that the Smart TVET project will be fully financed by the M-PESA Foundation as part of its commitment to transforming lives through education.
Mutua said the initiative is anchored on the Foundation's "Citizens of the Future" programme, which seeks to equip Kenyan youth with practical and digital skills needed to thrive in an evolving job market over the coming years.
He noted that over the last decade, the M-PESA Foundation has invested approximately KSh783 million in community development programmes, with more than KSh600 million directed towards education, KSh138 million towards healthcare, and about KSh17 million towards economic empowerment initiatives.
Mutua further revealed that Machakos County is expected to benefit from development projects worth at least KSh1.5 billion over the next 12 months through the Foundation's various interventions.
Machakos University Vice Chancellor Prof. Joyce Agalo welcomed the project, describing it as a landmark investment that will significantly strengthen technical education and empower thousands of young people with practical skills.
"This project is of great significance to the university and the region. It will equip our youth with market-driven skills, making them more productive, innovative and self-reliant," she said.
TVET Director Nicholas Muunda termed the groundbreaking ceremony a historic milestone, saying the Smart TVET Centre will redefine skills development for the youth and support the country's vision of nurturing future-ready citizens.
Once completed, the Smart TVET Centre will offer diploma programmes in Automotive Engineering, Mechanical Engineering (Plant and Production options), Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Power option), Building Technology, Civil Engineering, Food and Beverage Management, Catering and Accommodation, Fashion Design, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Plumbing, Masonry, Cosmetology, Business Management, Entrepreneurship, and Supply Chain Management, among other technical and vocational courses.
The facility is expected to serve Machakos University students, secondary school graduates pursuing technical training, learners from County Technical and Vocational Colleges (TVCs), and local artisans, making it a regional hub for technical and vocational skills development.
University leaders expressed confidence that the project will bridge the skills gap, promote innovation, and contribute to the socio-economic transformation of Machakos County and the wider Lower Eastern region.
