As joblessness bedevils Kenyans, Kisii County Government is encouraging youths to embrace technical training to increase their employability.

Already, a United Kingdom (UK) organisation is setting up Information and Communication Technology centres in the county.

The centres will be integrated in the county's 65 Technical and Vocational Training Centers, Governor James Ongwae said.

Ongwae said the UK Educational Technologies will start with Keumbu and Nyaburumbasi centres this week.

"The ICT centres will encourage more youths to embrace TVETs," Ongwae said in a speech read on his behalf by the Education and Vocational Training Executive Member, ..... Andama said.

Andama was representing the Governor in a worksop which brought together the institutions' managers in a local hotel.

With meagre funds from the exchequer and local revenue, the county government believes partnerships can help transform the sector.

The meeting was organised and funded by IntelliCore Technologies which has links to Spain.

Peter Monari who is a TVET expert working with the organisation said partnerships will help Kisii offer the best in technical training.

"We need to ask ourselves where our strengths and weaknesses are. How best can we build linkages for the better of our institutions?" Monari said.

He emphasised the role of TVETs in providing training opportunities and career advancement for school leavers and provision of skilled manpower that is needed at all levels of the economy.

"You need to take advantage of equipment and infrastructure at the Kisii Polytechnic in imparting skills to your students," Monari said.

He encouraged the centres to venture into agriculture related technologies and skills, as this will enable them generate extra income.

Andama said to encourage enrollment, the county government is building hostels in nine centres across the county.

"We have nine subcounties and each has been given a hostel. The construction is underway," he said.

TVETs from the county have lately done well in national examinations, thus attracting more students.

According to Tom Ongaga who is the acting County TVET director, there are over 4,500 learners undertaking crafts in the centres.

"Out of the 64, 56 are very vibrant. We offer ten courses and each of the centre has a manager who ensures smooth operations," he said.

Andama revealed that there were 375 instructors in the centres, a number that rose due to the intervention of the government.

"The county government has hired instructors and continues to expand or build infrastructure like workshops and purchasing equipment," he said.

Delegates raised concern that for the sector to produce the best graduates, the institutions should have modern equipment and a conducive learning environment.

Recently, Education CS George Magoha said that university graduates will be encouraged to undertake additional courses from TVETs to increase their employability chances.

Already, there are eleven polytechnics in the country but the government wants to increase them to 47, so that each county has one.

The polytechnics will nurture TVETs within their reach and at the same time have reduced pressure in offering the much needed skills.

The current job market dictates that one with some skill stands a better chance of getting a job or creating one for others and himself.