Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has lauded the government for constructing a multibillion Technical Training Institute in Tseikuru district estimated to cost Kshs. 3.5 billion.

Mr. Musyoka said the project is vital as it will benefit both the people of Kitui County and the entire country in providing skills for the job market.

“This is a gift from the government which should be well utilized, we will be one of the richest counties since we also have coal,” said Mr. Musyoka.

The Vice President was speaking yesterday during the foundation stone laying ceremony for the proposed Tseikuru Technical Training Institute in his Mwingi North Constituency, Kitui County.

Mr. Musyoka thanked the Ministry of Higher Education Science and Technology for selecting Tseikuru as one of the beneficiaries of the Technical Training facilities being initiated in the country.

He said the putting up of a cotton ginnery, an irrigation scheme and a constituent University in Tseikuru by Moi University will make the area an agricultural land.

The Minister for Higher Education Science and Technology, Prof. Margaret Kamar who laid the foundation stone, said the institute will offer quality education and training that would allow Kenyans to effectively participate in the knowledge based economy which poised to be the hallmark of a developed country.

Prof. Kamar said it was necessary for each county to have a technical training institute since the country’s development is currently driven by Vision 2030 which hinges upon the availability of a critical mass of technically skilled quality human resource for achievement of the national economic and social development goals set for the next 10-20 years.

She urged the people of Tseikuru to fully support the project as its success will attract a lot of development to the area in terms of direct investment, innovation and research.

Prof. Kamar said the institute which will be constructed on a 100 hectare piece of land will specialize in building and civil engineering, electric and electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, Information Communication Technology and hospitality courses.

She thanked the people of Tseikuru for setting aside land for the establishment of the institution.

“This shows your disposition to positive development as education and training is the key that unlocks the production potentials of our people, “she said.

She said the TTI institutions will produce graduates who will be able to be absorbed in the local, East Africa Community and international job market.

The minister encouraged Kenyans to pursue diploma and degree courses saying that secondary school education was only for attaining basic education and not for securing competitive jobs.

The Assistant Minister for Agriculture Mr. Kareke Mbiuki who also addressed the gathering said the country appreciates the good work and service the Vice President has rendered to his constituents and the entire nation and called on the people of Mwingi to support him in his presidential bid.

Present at the function included Member of Parliament for Mutomo Isaac Muoki and the Mwingi County Council Chairman Musyoka wa Maiyu among others.

Earlier, the Vice President visited Kalonzo secondary school in his Mwingi North constituency where he urged students to maintain high standards of discipline and desist from engaging in school unrest.

He said it takes self discipline for one to excel in life and told the students to be positive in whatever they do to enable them prosper in life.

The Vice President was accompanied by the Kyuso District Commissioner Peter Maina and the Kitui County Teachers Service Commission Director Shaban Mohammed.


VPPS
22nd June 2012
MWINGI