On October 9, 2026, President William Ruto awarded formal skills certificates to 3,727 Kenyans through the government's Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme. This initiative targets experienced workers who acquired practical mastery through apprenticeships, hands-on experience, and informal training. The certification aims to provide official credentials to prove their technical competence. Ruto emphasized that these skilled individuals have significantly contributed to Kenya's development even before receiving formal recognition.
The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) framework evaluates non-traditional learning pathways, ensuring experienced workers receive institutional backing without undergoing full retraining cycles. This approach focuses on practical competency evaluations of real-world work experience. The certified workers, including artisans, fundis, technicians, and self-taught individuals, will benefit from the government's new digital solutions. These solutions aim to enhance their employment opportunities and integrate them into Kenya's economic growth strategies.
The newly launched Fundi Locator portal functions as a digital marketplace, matching skilled technical and vocational workers directly with potential employers and prospective clients. The portal allows certified technicians to create professional profiles, highlight their portfolio of work, and receive job bookings transparently. Ruto encouraged the certified workers to utilize the Fundi Locator App to connect with customers and access more opportunities. This digital platform is expected to bridge the gap between skilled workers and clients.
In addition to the Fundi Locator portal, the government has revamped the Haba Haba social protection scheme to provide financial security measures for informal sector workers. The program encourages self-employed artisans, fundis, and small business operators to build long-term savings and access social safety nets tailored to irregular incomes. This initiative aims to support the financial inclusion of informal sector workers and provide them with a stable financial foundation.
The government's efforts to validate informal workforce skills and provide digital solutions have been widely welcomed. The certified workers can now access better employment opportunities and compete on a level playing field in the formal job market. The Fundi Locator portal and the revamped Haba Haba scheme are expected to have a positive impact on the lives of thousands of Kenyan artisans and informal sector workers.
President Ruto's administration has prioritized technical education, digitization of job distribution, and integration of informal workers into Kenya's economic growth strategies. The launch of the Fundi Locator portal and the revamped Haba Haba scheme reflects the government's commitment to supporting the growth and development of the informal sector. These initiatives are expected to contribute to Kenya's economic growth and provide more opportunities for its citizens.
The impact of these initiatives will be closely monitored, and their success could lead to further expansion and replication in other sectors. As the government continues to implement its agenda to elevate technical education and digitize job distribution, the certified workers will be at the forefront of Kenya's economic growth and development. The government's focus on supporting informal sector workers is expected to have a lasting impact on the country's economy and society.
Key points
- President Ruto awarded formal skills certificates to 3,727 Kenyans through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme.
- The Fundi Locator portal aims to match skilled technical and vocational workers directly with potential employers and prospective clients.
- The revamped Haba Haba social protection scheme provides financial security measures for informal sector workers.
