Members of the County Assembly have urged the Executive to speedup hiring of tutors across the 17 village Polytechnics in the County which are currently grossly understaffed.

Through a report  on inspection visit to various polytechnics by the Committee on Education which is headed by Murinduko Ward MCA Hon. Charles Nyamu, members further underscored the urgency of equipping all technical training institutions in the County,  noting that the Centers serve as enablers of self-employment among the youth.

While contributing to the afromentioned report, Mukure Ward MCA Hon. Thomas Mwangi, noted that the biggest impediment to the wellbeing of technical training Centres in the County, was failure by Management Boards to make independent decisions which are critical in running the institutions.

“Madam Speaker, it is very wrong that Board Members across all polytechnics do not have authority to procure even simple items like pencils. We must intervene and ensure that Board members, who were vetted and passed by this Assembly, are given the autonomy to run the institutions as is the case with other education institutions controlled by the National Government” Hon. Mwangi said.  He added “Madam Speaker, I am also of the view that all old cars in the County should be donated to vocational training Centers for enhancement of seamless practical lessons”.

Murinduko Ward MCA Hon. Charles Nyamu, said that the Executive should come up with Centres of Excellence selected among established Polytechnics as that would help improve the skills of trainees in readiness for the Job Market.

“Madam Speaker, if we want to empower our youth, we must come up with Centres of excellence which should be equipped to offer tailor made courses – for instance, Kaitheri Polytechnic can be equipped with state of the Art equipment to offer mechanical engineering courses while Kiamikuyu Polytechnic, can be equipped to offer carpentry courses” Hon. Nyamu said.

Similar sentiments were aired by nominated Member Hon. Benard Gichangi,  who observed that County Governments have the sole responsibility of running technical and vocational training institutions which is why the National Government should complement but not compete with devolved units in as far as technical training is concern.

“Madam Speaker, we are facing stiff competition from the National Government when it comes to running of vocational institutions – You may not expect to have students in Mucii wa Urata Vocational training Centre when we have Mwea Polytechnic which is better equipped and managed by the National Government nearby” Hon. Gichangi said.

Other Members who contributed to the debate include Hon. Jane Wangu – Nominated, Hon. Harrison Kariuki – Nominated, Hon. Irene Gathuku – Nominated, Hon. Beatrice Mitaru – Nominated, Hon. Kenneth Mwendia – Nyangati and Hon. Geoffrey Gakuru- Kiini all of whom concurred with calls to hire additional tutors and fully equip the existing polytechnics.

The County Executive Committee Member in charge of Education,  has been given ninety days to furnish members with a policy that shall among other initiatives, address incubation of village polytechnics with carpentry courses, as a way of enabling them to produce furniture for all ECDE Centres across the County.