Mombasa County unveils maritime and hospitality training to boost youth employment

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Kilifi Governor Mung’aro overhauls Finance, Water and Blue Economy leadership in fresh reshuffle

Farhiya Hussein

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Mombasa County has introduced specialised maritime, hospitality and technical courses under the KBEST programme to equip young people with industry-relevant skills and expand employment opportunities in the blue economy.

Mombasa County has introduced specialised vocational training courses in maritime, hospitality and technical fields to equip young people with skills aligned with employment opportunities in the blue economy.
The new programmes were launched at Mtongwe Vocational Training Centre in Likoni and will also be offered at Kisauni Vocational Training Centre, expanding access to technical and vocational education across the county.
The courses include outboard engine repair under boat building and repair, marine refrigeration and air conditioning, baking technology, accommodation operations, and basic safety and firefighting. They are designed to prepare learners for careers in maritime transport, tourism, hospitality and marine services.

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To support young mothers pursuing vocational education, the county also commissioned a daycare facility under the Second Chance Programme. The centre will provide childcare services, enabling students with children to continue their training.
The county is also constructing an automotive workshop to strengthen practical skills training, alongside two early childhood development and education (ECDE) classrooms to expand learning space.
Mombasa County has launched specialised vocational training programmes to equip young people with skills for jobs in the blue economy, tourism and technical sectors. (Photo: Handout)

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Speaking during the launch, Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir said vocational training should equip young people with skills that translate into employment and income-generating opportunities.
He said the courses had been introduced under the Kenya Blue Economy Skills Training (KBEST) Programme, which is being implemented in partnership with Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan).
“The blue economy presents opportunities in sectors such as maritime transport, tourism and ship repair. Our responsibility is to ensure young people acquire the skills needed to take part in these sectors through employment, enterprise and self-employment,” the governor said.
Abdulswamad said the county would continue expanding vocational training programmes while strengthening collaboration between training institutions and industry to ensure the courses meet labour market demands.
He added that partnerships with training institutions, development organisations and private sector players would play a key role in creating employment opportunities for graduates both within Kenya and abroad.
The governor also highlighted the county’s Tourism Innovation Hub as one of the initiatives aimed at linking graduates to employment, innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities in tourism and maritime-related sectors.
The programme is part of broader efforts to strengthen technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and tackle youth unemployment by developing skills tailored to emerging industries along Kenya’s coast.

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