Kenya National Bureau of Statistics has unveiled a nationwide census covering all technical and vocational education and training (TVET) facilities throughout the nation.
KNBS reports the initiative will commence on May 20, with the objective of enhancing planning and policy development in the TVET sector, following concerns about fraudulent accreditation claims.
Speaking in Nakuru on May 16, KNBS Director General Macdonald Obudho explained the census will collect information on TVET institution counts, student registration, staff numbers, and the condition of facilities and instructional tools nationwide.
Obudho noted the results will assist the government in identifying deficiencies, directing resources to areas requiring them most, and aligning educational programs with market skill requirements.
This will show us what has succeeded and what has not. It will also indicate our progress regarding TVET institutions and what additional measures are necessary to ensure smooth operations.
The census coincides with TVET institutions implementing the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) curriculum, which prioritizes hands-on skills and demands substantial investment in contemporary tools and educational materials.
TVET Nakuru Regional Director Rosemary Kimani emphasized the collected data will inform resource distribution and guarantee institutions are adequately prepared to provide competency-focused education.
Our new CBET curriculum provides practical skills, meaning substantial equipment and resources are needed. The data will provide guidance on how to deliver effective training programs.
This initiative occurs amid accusations of providing false accreditations and unauthorized certifications.
Last April, two institutions were shut down for offering unrecognized accreditations to students, while additional facilities received warnings.
Notably, in March 2026, the authority published a list of sanctioned TVET institutions operating in Kenya.
Through a March 10 notice, the authority highlighted its concern about growing numbers of training facilities lacking legal authority to provide certificates, which have deceived the public by issuing internal credentials.
The document encompassed 34 National Polytechnics, 1,807 Technical and Vocational Colleges, and 1,216 Vocational Training Centres.