Kenya Railways has unveiled a newly-built facility offering technical courses in Kisumu.
The Railway Training Institute - Marine School was rebuilt as part of the revamp at Kisumu Port which has been renovated to a tune of Ksh3 billion.
The facility, with ultra-modern facilities, is set to offer training programs geared towards building human resource capacity in the marine sector.
The new school will open its doors in May 2021 with the port set to be officially opened in October 2021.
The school is funded by the World Bank and the government of Kenya with facilities such as a training pool, a firefighting training facility, standard hostels for 160 students, 40 executive rooms, and a conference room.
The Marine School has adopted the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) syllabus to equip and certify Lake Victoria vessel operators with skills and competencies in safety, protection, and preservation of the marine environment.
The training centre will also play a key role in fostering regional integration through training and enhance trade among the East Africa countries.
As a result of the new institute, the country will maintain its high ranking at the International Maritime Organization as well as participate in the transformation of the country into a middle-income economy as outlined in vision 2030.
Currently, the institution offers various courses including Coxswain Level 3, Diploma in International Freight Management and Certificate in Maritime Transport Operations with more courses lined up as the facility expands.
The Kisumu port renovation is part of the government's plan in restoring the once vibrant East Africa hub of Kisumu.
Along with port, Kenya Railways is also rehabilitating a section of the 217-kilometre Nakuru-Kisumu railway track at a cost of Ksh3.8 billion.
The port is also linked to the Kenya Pipeline's 45 million litre-capacity Kisumu depot to facilitate fuel transportation. The port will reduce congestion on roads where trucks are used to ferry fuel into Uganda.
It is also linked to the National Cereals and Produce Board depot for the evacuation and depositing of grains.
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