Daniel arap Moi cautions against converting middle level colleges into varsities

Kenya: Former President Daniel Moi has cautioned against attempts to convert technical institutions to public universities.

Mr Moi said middle level colleges were prime movers in transforming the economy and fostering development by enabling the youth develop self-reliant skills leading to self-employment.

“We should learn this from Asian economies which have harnessed the benefits of technical education as a springboard to becoming economic giants of the world,” he said in a speech read on his behalf by Ambassador Julius Sunkuli during the ninth graduation of the Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology (RVIST) in Nakuru.

And as the Government strives to set up new technical colleges and polytechnics across the country, Mr Moi reiterated the need to prioritise quality. “We need to take into cognizance of quality, competence, demand-driven programmes and integrations of ICT in the training,” he said.

Mr Moi added that technical colleges would lead to the production of manpower needed to drive the Government’s commitment toward achieving Vision 2030 goals.

He, however, appreciated the Government’s efforts to establish more technical institutions, and said this would significantly boost the economy and overall development of rural areas.

“With the youth constituting a larger percentage of the Kenyan population, it is imperative that the Government injects more resources and gives more support in matters infrastructure, equipment and trained human resource,” said the former President.

Nation buidling

He advised the 1,302 graduants who will be joining other Kenyans in nation building to be prepared for the many challenges that will come their way.

On his part, RVIST Chief Principal Eddy Koimett said the institute had expanded significantly, raising its student population from 78 students  to the current 5,500  in its main and town campuses.

“We started from a small beginning but we are proud of our steady growth and we are focused on achieving more in matters technology and innovation,” said Mr Koimett. He said the institute had designed 15 tailor-made courses in collaboration with the Rongai Constituency Development Fund that will see diversification of technical skills among its students.

With the Government’s discovery of oil in parts of the country such as Turkana, Koimett said the institute had since partnered with the Canadian community to ensure capacity building in the oil sector so as to enable its students play a role in the oil sector.