Fake certificates? No facilities? Unqualified trainers? NOT ON OUR WATCH!
Today, the TVET Authority, in a joint operation with the Limuru Sub-County Security Team, officially closed the “Initiative for Skills Empowerment” college in Tigoni for operating in total contravention of the TVET Act CAP 210A.
The Backstory: From Charity to Deception
What started as a noble donor project in 2020 by Rev. Bill of Rehoboth Community to offer free skills to needy youth has been hijacked!
• The Original Vision: Free training for the youth at the Tigoni Technical Centre.
• The Reality Check: A local CBO took over, renamed it “Initiative for Skills Empowerment”, and began charging unsuspecting students for courses like Plumbing, Electrical Installation, and Bakery—without any equipment, no curriculum, and no qualified trainers.
The Harsh Reality for Students
During a heated stakeholders’ meeting led by Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Harrison Mutevwa and TVETA’s Head of Compliance Dr. Paul Wanyeki, the truth came out:
• Fake Certificates: Any papers issued by this “college” are invalid.
• Deplorable Conditions: Classes were being held in substandard facilities with broken-down sanitation.
• Financial Exploitation: Students were paying fees for “free” donor-funded training, with vague promises of sitting exams “elsewhere.”
The Verdict
1. Immediate Closure: The institution is closed forthwith.
2. Legal Action: Students have been advised to seek legal redress against the CBO to recover their hard-earned money.
3. Strict Warning: The DCC warned that operating on public land illegally and duping the public is a crime. Local administration officials abetting such acts are also on notice!
MESSAGE TO PARENTS & STUDENTS: Don’t gamble with your future! Before you pay a single shilling:
✅ VERIFY if the institution is registered on the TVETA website.
✅ CHECK if the courses are accredited.
✅ REPORT any suspicious colleges operating in your area.
“Our role is to protect the public from exploitation. Ensure your child is in a registered public or private institution to avoid losing money and time.” — DCC Harrison Mutevwa.