NCA, Housing Finance seek to build army of 1 million artisans

The National Construction Authority (NCA) seeks to build an army of one million artisans trained, accredited and registered in a bid to improve workmanship in Kenya.

The authority has partnered with the Housing Finance Foundation to establish an institute that will train and certify artisans to help build a competent workforce that will help the country to attain its Vision 2030.

NCA executive director Daniel Manduku said the partnership will ensure the local construction industry is professionalised to help stimulate economic growth.

“We have several artisans out there with skills who have been forgotten. We will access their competencies, train them and certify them because we need a well trained and competent workforce to propel this nation as per vision 2030,” he said.

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Mr Manduku said the two organisations will hold a consultative workshop to discuss skills taught in vocational and technical institutions, competent standards as required by the industry and propose competency based curriculum with a view of filling the gaps in the sector.

“We are coming up with National Construction Institute and it will be up before the end of 2015,we need it be used as the benchmark,” he said.

According to the Housing Finance Foundation executive director Winnie Kathurima, the deal will raise Kenya’s profile as the best construction site in East Africa.

“We have seen companies from outside bringing in their artisans yet we have idle youth who pose security and other challenges facing our society. We need to give capacity to these young people to make them productive,” she said.

Ms Kathurima said they have identified several technical institutions and polytechnics around the country from where the youth will be trained.

In partnership with the NCA, Housing Finance Foundation will re-brand the youth polytechnics to make them more appealing to the young people.

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