Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo has called for the scrapping of obsolete courses in tertiary institutions and the introduction of programmes that respond to the changing demands of the job market.
Nyaribo said education institutions must continuously review their curricula to ensure learners acquire relevant skills that can promote employment, entrepreneurship and sustainable development.
The Governor spoke on September 11, 2026, during the Gusii Education Stakeholders’ Convention at Kisii University, a two-day meeting that brought together education stakeholders to discuss ways of making education and training more responsive to the needs of the economy.
The convention was hosted by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba.
Nyaribo cited developments in China’s education sector, saying the country had scrapped thousands of courses and introduced new ones as part of efforts to align education with emerging economic and labour-market needs.
“We have to eliminate courses which are no longer tenable. We should follow the queue by scrapping courses which are no longer useful for the job market,” Nyaribo said.
He said Kenya must similarly reconsider programmes that no longer provide learners with relevant opportunities in the current economy.
According to Nyaribo, regular review of the education system is essential in ensuring that academic outcomes remain aligned with sustainable development and the changing demands of the workplace.
The Governor also outlined education initiatives implemented by his administration in Nyamira County, including increased support for vocational training through scholarships and bursaries.
He said the interventions were aimed at expanding access to technical and vocational education while equipping young people with practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship.
Nyaribo further said his administration had introduced digital learning in all 408 Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres across the county.
He said the programme was intended to expose children to technology at an early age and lay a strong foundation for a future workforce capable of participating in a technology-driven economy.
The Governor also highlighted the county’s fortified uji programme, saying it had contributed to an increase in ECDE enrolment from 28,000 to 35,000 learners.
He said improving access to education must go hand in hand with interventions that support children to attend school and create an environment conducive to learning.
The stakeholders’ convention focused on the need to shift education outcomes from simply imparting knowledge to developing practical, job-focused skills.
Nyaribo said closer alignment between education and the labour market would help address unemployment while creating a generation of young people equipped to pursue both formal employment and entrepreneurship.
The discussions also underscored the need for education institutions to continuously adapt their programmes to emerging technologies, economic opportunities and changing workforce requirements.
