The Director General of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA), Timothy Nyongesa Katiambo, today hosted Zhang Zhizhong, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Kenya, for high-level discussions on Kenya’s participation in the upcoming WorldSkills Competition 2026.

The 48th edition of the global skills showcase is scheduled to take place from 22–27 September 2026 in Shanghai. However, Kenya is unlikely to participate due to logistical challenges that limited timely preparation by the WorldSkills Kenya Secretariat, including the registration of competitors and settlement of requisite participation fees.

During the meeting, Mr. Zhang expressed regret over Kenya’s potential absence, noting the country’s strategic importance as a partner in advancing technical and vocational education and training. He reiterated China’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with Kenya in skills development, including exploring opportunities for participation and facilitating knowledge exchange.

“I know TVET is central to Kenya’s development agenda, and we had looked forward to hosting your team in Shanghai, which is set to be the largest WorldSkills Competition yet. Nonetheless, we will continue engaging to explore possible avenues for Kenya’s participation,” he noted.

Mr. Zhang further proposed enhanced cooperation through staff exchange programmes aimed at deepening institutional learning and sharing best practices from China’s TVET ecosystem.

On his part, Mr. Katiambo appreciated the continued partnership and affirmed that TVETA, in collaboration with WorldSkills Kenya and Kenya Association of Technical Training Institutions (KATTI), will continue to explore viable pathways for Kenya’s participation in future WorldSkills events.

Also present were Li Din, Third Secretary at the Chinese Embassy; and members of the TVETA team, including Paul Wanyeki (Compliance and Enforcement), Bibiana Otieno (Outreach), and James Momanyi (Corporate Communications).

This engagement underscores TVETA’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships, enhancing global competitiveness, and advancing skills development in Kenya.