President William Ruto has linked the recognition and certification of practical skills to greater employment opportunities, saying the Government is creating pathways for thousands of skilled Kenyans to secure jobs and participate in the country’s economic transformation.

Speaking on Thursday at State House, Nairobi, during the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) graduation and recognition ceremony for 3,750 Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) beneficiaries, President Ruto said Kenyans should not be locked out of employment simply because they lack formal academic qualifications.

He said the RPL programme was designed to identify, assess and certify competencies acquired through work experience, apprenticeships and other forms of practical training.

Ruto said the ability to speak English should not be used to undermine a person’s competence in a technical occupation, noting that formal recognition of practical skills would give employers greater confidence in workers’ abilities while enabling skilled Kenyans to access employment opportunities.

He emphasised that young Kenyans possess different talents and should be supported through education and training pathways that match their abilities.

“Our young people are gifted differently,” he said, noting that some excel in science, mathematics, technology and engineering, while others demonstrate talent in the arts, sports and other areas.

The President said the Government would continue strengthening competency-based education and training to ensure skills acquired through different pathways can translate into productive careers.

“We must recognise every skill. And that is why I say, every hustle matters,” he said.

Ruto announced that the Government, in partnership with the World Bank, would certify 20,000 skilled Kenyans, with an additional 40,000 to be certified through government efforts.

He linked the initiative to the growing demand for skilled workers arising from Government development projects, particularly the affordable housing programme.

“We have to create a path for those who have different skills, to work,” he said.

According to Ruto, the housing programme is intended not only to provide affordable homes but also to generate employment by creating demand for electricians, plumbers, masons, carpenters, welders, painters and other technical workers.

Certification could enable such workers to compete for opportunities in large-scale construction projects and other sectors requiring verified technical competencies.

Ruto told the beneficiaries that their practical skills were as valuable as those acquired through conventional academic pathways.

The RPL initiative is therefore being positioned as part of the Government’s employment strategy, particularly for young people who have acquired practical competencies but lack formal certification.

For thousands of Kenyans working in the informal sector or learning trades through experience, the programme could provide a link between the skills they already possess and access to formally recognised employment opportunities.