A new industry-led apprenticeship programme aimed at tackling youth unemployment and addressing the shortage of skilled workers in Kenya’s construction sector has been launched in Mombasa.
The programme, dubbed PropelA, introduces a dual apprenticeship model that combines 75 percent workplace learning and 25 percent classroom instruction, allowing trainees to gain hands-on experience while pursuing technical education.
The initiative is being implemented by Swisscontact in partnership with the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, and private sector companies.
Speaking during the official launch in Mombasa, Swisscontact Head of Programmes Jimmy Delyon said Kenya continues to lose an estimated KSh5,000 every second due to low workforce productivity, attributing the losses largely to the shortage of skilled labour.
“Research has revealed that every second, about KSh5,000 is lost due to low workforce productivity. This is not because there is a lack of demand, but because we lack a skilled workforce,” said Delyon.
He noted that the skills deficit is affecting businesses across the country and called for innovative approaches to workforce development.
“This is not just a sector problem; it is a business problem. We need creative ways to boost workforce productivity. For many years, skills development has been treated as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), but we need to start seeing it as a sound business strategy and not just CSR,” he added.
Swisscontact Country Director Sharon Mosin said the PropelA programme places employers at the centre of skills development, enabling them to shape training and produce graduates who meet industry needs.
“The approach bridges the gap between education and employment by ensuring that young people graduate with the practical skills, industry experience and professional exposure required by employers,” said Mosin.
The programme comes as Mombasa experiences rapid growth in construction, transport, logistics, tourism, energy and infrastructure development, sectors that continue to face a shortage of skilled technicians despite increasing investment.
According to Swisscontact, employers have cited workforce readiness gaps, quality assurance concerns, safety challenges and limited collaboration between industry and training institutions as some of the key challenges affecting productivity and project delivery.
Under the apprenticeship model, students will spend three weeks each month in the workplace and one week in the classroom, allowing them to acquire practical experience while undertaking technical training. Employers will also play a direct role in curriculum development, mentorship and workplace learning.
The organization said the model has already delivered encouraging results in Nairobi, where graduate employability has reached 80 percent, while participating companies have reported up to a 30 percent return on investment from training apprentices.
Swisscontact noted that Kenya’s expanding infrastructure sector continues to outpace the supply of skilled artisans. The country has only about 2,000 certified plumbers, masons and painters, compared to approximately 5,000 engineers, highlighting the growing skills mismatch.
The Mombasa rollout follows the national launch of Kenya’s Industry-Led Dual Apprenticeship Curriculum earlier this year and is expected to strengthen collaboration between industry, government and TVET institutions while creating more employment opportunities for young people across the Coast region.
The programme, dubbed PropelA, introduces a dual apprenticeship model that combines 75 percent workplace learning and 25 percent classroom instruction, allowing trainees to gain hands-on experience while pursuing technical education.
The initiative is being implemented by Swisscontact in partnership with the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, and private sector companies.
Speaking during the official launch in Mombasa, Swisscontact Head of Programmes Jimmy Delyon said Kenya continues to lose an estimated KSh5,000 every second due to low workforce productivity, attributing the losses largely to the shortage of skilled labour.
“Research has revealed that every second, about KSh5,000 is lost due to low workforce productivity. This is not because there is a lack of demand, but because we lack a skilled workforce,” said Delyon.
He noted that the skills deficit is affecting businesses across the country and called for innovative approaches to workforce development.
“This is not just a sector problem; it is a business problem. We need creative ways to boost workforce productivity. For many years, skills development has been treated as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), but we need to start seeing it as a sound business strategy and not just CSR,” he added.
Swisscontact Country Director Sharon Mosin said the PropelA programme places employers at the centre of skills development, enabling them to shape training and produce graduates who meet industry needs.
“The approach bridges the gap between education and employment by ensuring that young people graduate with the practical skills, industry experience and professional exposure required by employers,” said Mosin.
The programme comes as Mombasa experiences rapid growth in construction, transport, logistics, tourism, energy and infrastructure development, sectors that continue to face a shortage of skilled technicians despite increasing investment.
According to Swisscontact, employers have cited workforce readiness gaps, quality assurance concerns, safety challenges and limited collaboration between industry and training institutions as some of the key challenges affecting productivity and project delivery.
Under the apprenticeship model, students will spend three weeks each month in the workplace and one week in the classroom, allowing them to acquire practical experience while undertaking technical training. Employers will also play a direct role in curriculum development, mentorship and workplace learning.
The organization said the model has already delivered encouraging results in Nairobi, where graduate employability has reached 80 percent, while participating companies have reported up to a 30 percent return on investment from training apprentices.
Swisscontact noted that Kenya’s expanding infrastructure sector continues to outpace the supply of skilled artisans. The country has only about 2,000 certified plumbers, masons and painters, compared to approximately 5,000 engineers, highlighting the growing skills mismatch.
The Mombasa rollout follows the national launch of Kenya’s Industry-Led Dual Apprenticeship Curriculum earlier this year and is expected to strengthen collaboration between industry, government and TVET institutions while creating more employment opportunities for young people across the Coast region.
