- This is not just about technology, it is about preparing a generation of Kenyans for the future of work.
- By combining dialogue with practical demonstrations, the conference aims to inspire a movement rather than just a moment.
- When the curtains rise on October 17 in Nakuru, it will not simply be another academic conference. It will be a national declaration that Kenya is ready to embrace the future of education and work.
On October 17, 2025, a historic conversation will begin in Nakuru City. Educators, policymakers, students, industry leaders, and technology innovators will converge at St. Mary’s Pastoral Centre for the National Launch Conference on AI and the Future of TVET.
The event, themed “AI and the Future of TVET: Beginning Kenya’s National Conversation,” will mark the start of a bold journey, one that seeks to reimagine the country’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Why This Matters
Kenya’s TVET system has long been at the heart of youth employability, industrialization, and skills development. Yet, as AI transforms economies across the globe, there is growing concern that without deliberate integration, TVET graduates risk being left behind.
The stakes are high. Students may graduate with outdated skills, educators may lack modern tools to personalize learning, and institutions could adopt AI in inequitable or unsafe ways. Recognizing this, the Reimagining Kenya’s TVET Sector through Artificial Intelligence Initiative (Oct 2025 – Oct 2026) has been launched.
Over the next 12 months, the initiative will focus on:
- Building AI awareness and capacity across the TVET ecosystem.
- Supporting institutions to adopt tailored AI tools for teaching, learning, and administration.
- Co-creating a National AI in TVET Roadmap (2026–2029).
- Embedding ethical, inclusive, and sustainable AI practices.
This is not just about technology, it is about preparing a generation of Kenyans for the future of work.
The Launch Conference
The National Launch Conference will officially kickstart this transformative program. With over 300 participants expected, it will bring together representatives from government, TVET institutions, private sector, development partners, and the media.
The conference will feature:
- A national dialogue on AI in TVET, examining both opportunities and risks.
- Showcases of local innovations, spotlighting how AI can transform vocational training.
- The official launch of the Rift Valley Institute of Business Studies (RVIBS) Virtual School and an AI-Powered Career & Skills Portal.
- Announcement of AI Readiness & Innovation Labs for pioneering institutions.
By combining dialogue with practical demonstrations, the conference aims to inspire a movement rather than just a moment.
Positioning Kenya as a Continental Leader
Kenya has already established itself as a digital hub in East Africa, with innovations in fintech, e-commerce, and mobile technology setting global benchmarks. The integration of AI into TVET has the potential to extend this leadership into education and workforce development.
If successful, the initiative could make Kenya a continental leader in AI-driven vocational training, setting standards that other African nations may adopt.
The ripple effects are immense: more employable graduates, more resilient institutions, and a more competitive national workforce.
Voices Behind the Vision
Organizers believe that the success of this initiative lies in collective effort. Partnerships are being sought not only from government agencies but also from technology providers, media houses, and development organizations.
“Sponsoring this initiative is more than supporting a single event; it is an investment in Kenya’s youth, in institutional resilience, and in national competitiveness,” the organizing committee notes.
This vision aligns with global conversations on the future of work, where AI is expected to disrupt millions of jobs but also create new opportunities for those equipped with the right skills.
Opportunities for Institutions and Students
For students, the initiative promises exposure to AI-powered career guidance tools, innovation challenges, and digital learning platforms. For educators, it offers training and support to adopt learner-centered, AI-enhanced teaching methodologies.
Institutions, on the other hand, will benefit from AI Readiness & Innovation Labs, which will serve as hubs of experimentation and adaptation.
By embedding ethics and inclusivity, the program also seeks to ensure that AI adoption in TVET does not widen inequalities but rather becomes a bridge toward greater access and opportunity.
A Call to Action
The conference is not the end; it is the beginning of a year-long national journey that will culminate in a comprehensive roadmap for AI in TVET.
Stakeholders across all sectors are being invited to be part of this transformative agenda. Their participation, whether through thought leadership, technology, or partnerships, will help ensure that Kenya’s workforce is not only ready for the future but is shaping it.
As Ms. Emily Wangui Mwangi, Organizing Secretary at Rift Valley Institute of Business Studies, explains, “This initiative is about equipping our youth with the skills and resilience they need for tomorrow’s jobs. Together, we can position Kenya at the forefront of ethical, innovative, and inclusive AI adoption in Africa.”
Beginning a New Chapter
When the curtains rise on October 17 in Nakuru, it will not simply be another academic conference. It will be a national declaration that Kenya is ready to embrace the future of education and work.
For the 300+ participants and the thousands of students, educators, and citizens whose futures depend on a responsive TVET sector, this will be the start of a new story; one where Kenya leads, not lags, in the age of Artificial Intelligence.
The theme says it best: AI and the Future of TVET: Beginning Kenya’s National Conversation.
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