The government announced that it will validate the skills of casual labourers who will render their services in President William Ruto's affordable housing project.
In a declaration made on Tuesday, October 25, the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) Director General Stephen Ogenga stated that the authority will issue certificates to recognise the skills.
He revealed that a team from NITA will be on-site to monitor the work of the labourers across six disciplines.
"We will profile the entry behaviour of the workers for masonry, metal fabrications and welding, carpentry and joinery, roofing, plumbing, tiling and electrical wiring, and solar installation.
"We will then apply the recognition of the prior learning model which includes a customised on-site assessment to evaluate the capabilities of the hustlers while on site that will lead to certification," Ogenga stated.
The Director General explained that the certificates can be used by the artisans to apply for other jobs in both the private sector and will denote their level of expertise.
"We will then issue them with NITA certificates at level two of the qualifications framework which has three grades. The certifications can be vertically enhanced to master craftspersons at level 3 and progress to level 8 of professional craftspersons," he noted.
Ogenga, who made the statements during the groundbreaking of the Kibera Soweto East Zone B Social Housing Project, petitioned President Ruto to approve the Recognition of Prior Learning policy.
In his response, the head of state affirmed that the artisans will work with TVET institutions in delivering the houses.
"Even if you do not have papers but you have the skill, you will get the certification. There is no need to take an individual who has mastered his skills back to class," Ruto remarked.
Furthermore, he announced incentives to encourage the residents of Kibera to purchase the homes, which he argued were built to alleviate them from informal settlements.
"If you are buying your very first house, then we will not charge you the stamp duty but once we do it, you still have to pay land rates," the President concluded.
The Head of State affirmed that the affordable housing project would address the current demand for over two million homes. In Nairobi, the government targets to build 500,000 houses.
