Our History

Beginning in 1972, a partnership between the Government of Kenya and the Canadian government led to several discussions that ultimately resulted in the construction and establishment of the institution. The mushrooming of Harambee Institutes (HITS), the introduction of technical training institutes, and the opening of private and government training institutes were contributing factors to the growing demand for technical teachers.

The institution officially opened its doors to the first students in 1978, with the then-president, H.E. Daniel T. Arap Moi, EGH, MP, presiding over the official inauguration on 16th March 1979. Since then, KSTVET has continuously evolved, developing an extensive range of courses and experiencing substantial growth in student enrollment. It has emerged as one of the leading institutions in Eastern and Central Africa. KSTVET operates under the authority of the Education Act Cap 211 (revised in 1980) and Legal Notice No. 242 of 1978, which mandates it to train technical teachers for institutions across the country.

The early teaching staff consisted of Canadians, but proactive measures by CIDA ensured the training of Kenyans in Canadian universities, anticipating that they would eventually take up responsibilities for training in the college. Between 1978 and 1993, approximately 135 Kenyans effectively replaced the Canadian teaching staff, marking a significant success for the CIDA project.

At that time, KSTVET’s core functions were:

1. Training of technical trainers to teach in secondary schools and tertiary institutions.
2. Implementation of various syllabi under TVET programs in collaboration with stakeholders.
3. Development of relevant syllabi for technical training in collaboration with stakeholders.
4. To develop, administer, and process examinations and award certificates, diplomas, and higher diplomas to successful candidates.
5. Development and implementation of curricula in response to the demands of the labor market.
6. To conduct applied research and promote innovation.

The mandate has since been expanded in line with emerging demands.

To be a Global Centre of Excellence In Technical Vocational Education and Training, Research and Consultancy.