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Kandara Technical and Vocational College is situated in Murang’ County, Kandara sub-county 10km off Thika – Kenol Highway from Makenji. It is near Kiranga shopping Centre along Makenji – Kandara road. The institution sits on a 5-acre land. The institution was launched by Hon. Alice Muthoni the MP Kandara constituency on 7/8/2019 and was under mentorship of Michuki Technical Training Institute from its opening until 2/12/2021. The college enrolled its first batch of artisan and craft students on 6/9/2019 who sat for their examination in January 2020 under Kenya National Examination Council. The institution was officially opened by H. E William Samoei Ruto the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya on 6/3/2020. The institution began with eight (8) members of staff and currently has a staff establishment of sixty seven (67) members. The college is managed by a Board of Governors appointed by the Ministry of Education and it is run under the TVET Act 2013.The registration number is TVETA/PUBLIC/TVC/0054/2121A1. college trains in three curriculums namely KASNEB, NITA AND CDACC. Currently the college has 988 students studying across all our technical and business courses.   1. BUILDING DEPPRTMENT. The The Inspiring Transformation of the Building and Civil Engineering Department at Kandara Technical and Vocational College The Building and Civil Engineering Department at Kandara Technical and Vocational College has, over the past seven years, established itself as one of the institution’s most successful and transformative departments. Since the college was established in 2019, the department has continuously evolved from a small academic unit into a centre of excellence renowned for quality technical training, infrastructure development, research, innovation, and community service. Starting with only two academic programmes and fifty-seven trainees, the department has demonstrated that visionary leadership, dedicated staff, institutional support, and strategic partnerships can transform challenges into opportunities. Today, the department stands as a model of excellence within the TVET sector. Expanding Academic Programmes One of the department’s most outstanding achievements has been the expansion of academic programmes to meet the changing needs of the construction and engineering industry. From initially offering only Plumbing Levels 4 and 5 and Building Technology Level 5, the department now offers a diverse range of programmes including Civil Engineering, Building Technology (Diploma), Water Engineering, Land Survey, Architecture, Masonry, Pipe Fitting, and Tiling and Painting. This expansion has significantly increased access to technical education, enabling more young people to pursue careers within the built environment while supporting the government’s agenda of producing a skilled workforce for national development. Remarkable Growth in Student Enrolment Programme expansion has been accompanied by tremendous growth in enrolment. The department has grown from only 57 trainees in 2019 to above 400 trainees, making it one of the largest academic departments within Kandara Technical and Vocational College. This achievement reflects increasing confidence from students, parents, employers, and the community in the quality of training offered by the department. Producing Competent Industry-Ready Graduates The department has consistently focused on producing graduates equipped with practical knowledge and employable skills. Through Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET), students undertake extensive practical sessions using industry-standard equipment and participate in real institutional projects. This practical exposure enables graduates to transition seamlessly into employment within construction companies, consulting firms, county governments, water agencies, surveying firms, and private practice. Many graduates have also ventured into self-employment, establishing successful businesses as contractors, survey assistants, plumbers, builders, and construction entrepreneurs. Transformation of Engineering Workshops A major milestone has been the successful transformation of engineering workshops into modern centers of practical learning. At the inception of the institution, many expensive Government-supplied machines remained unused because the college lacked a three-phase electricity supply and suitable workshop facilities. The department spearheaded initiatives that led to the installation of a transformer and three-phase electricity, making it possible to commission and fully utilize engineering equipment. Today, students enjoy practical training using fully operational workshops, including the Civil Engineering Workshop, Geotechnical Laboratory, Survey Equipment Laboratory, Masonry Workshop, and Computer-Aided Design Studio. These facilities have greatly enhanced practical learning and significantly improved graduate competence. Continuous Investment in Modern Training Equipment The continuous investment by the college administration in modern training equipment has significantly enhanced the department’s capacity to deliver quality Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET). Through the acquisition of surveying instruments, civil engineering laboratory equipment, construction tools, CAD resources, plumbing facilities, and workshop machinery, trainees have gained access to industry-standard practical training. The installation of three-phase electricity further enabled the operation of previously dormant equipment, strengthening practical learning, research, innovation, and income-generating activities. This sustained support has positioned the Building and Civil Engineering Department as one of the best-equipped engineering departments within Kandara Technical and Vocational College. Revitalization of the Cabro Production Unit Among the department’s flagship achievements is the revitalization of the cabro production unit. Following the installation of three-phase transformer, previously dormant cabro production machines were commissioned and are now fully operational. The unit has become a successful Income Generating Activity (IGA), producing quality paving blocks while providing trainees with practical experience in manufacturing, quality assurance, costing, production management, and entrepreneurship. The department has successfully produced and installed cabro paving at the institution’s main entrance and other partnering institutions like Mathioya TVC, Kigumo TVC among others. Driving Institutional Infrastructure Development The department has become the institution’s technical backbone, providing engineering expertise throughout the planning, design, construction, and supervision of major development projects. Departmental trainers have actively participated in: Design and supervision of the new Tuition Block currently under construction. Construction of the Mechanical Engineering Workshops. Development of the Food and Beverage Training Hotel. Construction of the Masonry Workshop. Installation of computer workstations at the Jitume Digital Hub. Production and installation of cabro paving. Renovation of classrooms, offices, and workshops. Repair and maintenance of institutional buildings. Technical inspections and quality assurance of construction works. Preparation of technical drawings, engineering advice, and project supervision. These projects have enhanced the institution’s physical infrastructure while providing students with invaluable real-world practical experience. Research and Innovation The department has embraced research and innovation as key drivers of quality education. The

Across Kenya, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions are redefining education by integrating practical skills with entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainable income generation. At Kandara Technical and Vocational College (Kandara TVC), this vision has become a reality through a vibrant Income Generating Activities (IGA) programme that not only supplements institutional revenue but also provides trainees with authentic workplace experience. Every project undertaken by the college reflects the philosophy that learning is most effective when students apply their knowledge to solve real-world challenges. During the 2025–2026 academic year, three departments the Building and Civil Engineering Department, Institutional Management Department, and Mechanical Engineering Department recorded remarkable achievements that demonstrate the value of integrating training with enterprise. Their success has strengthened the college’s financial sustainability, expanded partnerships with educational institutions and industry, and enhanced the employability of trainees. The Building and Civil Engineering Department has emerged as one of the college’s flagship enterprise units. Leveraging modern construction workshops and practical training facilities, the department successfully manufactured and supplied 820 square metres of high-quality concrete paving blocks to neighbouring TVET institutions. Of these, 600 square metres were supplied to Kigumo Technical and Vocational College, while 220 square metres were delivered to Mathioya Technical and Vocational College.                                                           Figure 1: Cabro Making Machine, Kandara TVC These projects provided trainees with invaluable practical experience in material testing, concrete mix design, hydraulic block pressing, curing processes, quality assurance, and project management. Working on commercial contracts enabled learners to appreciate production schedules, customer expectations, and professional standards, preparing them for future employment in the construction sector. The department further strengthened its technical capacity through a strategic partnership with Murang’a University, enabling access to advanced material testing facilities. This collaboration has enhanced the quality of training by allowing trainees to undertake sophisticated tests such as compressive strength analysis, aggregate impact value testing, soil compaction analysis, and tensile strength testing. Beyond reducing operational costs, the partnership has promoted knowledge exchange and strengthened collaboration between TVET institutions and universities.  Figure 2: Produced Cabro being dried before delivery to our clients’ The Institutional Management Department has equally demonstrated how practical training can be transformed into a sustainable business enterprise. Through its commercial bakery and catering unit, trainees have gained hands-on experience while providing quality products and services to both the college community and the public.                       Figure 3: Catherine Mwangi, Kandara TVC HOD IM holding breaks The department operates a successful bakery specializing in custom-designed celebration cakes, pastries, and confectionery products for graduations, birthdays, institutional functions, and other events. These activities have enabled trainees to sharpen their culinary creativity while mastering food production, quality control, costing, marketing, and customer relations. Figure 4: Kandara TVC Outside Catering Unit The Mechanical Engineering Department has expanded its role beyond classroom instruction by offering technical consultancy and engineering services to educational institutions within Murang’a County. During the reporting period, the department successfully completed laboratory installation projects for Kiranga Junior Secondary School and Muruka Secondary School. These projects involved consultation, fabrication of laboratory workbenches, plumbing installations, water supply systems, drainage works, and laboratory fittings. Through these assignments, trainees acquired practical experience in fabrication, welding, plumbing, installation, and project execution while directly contributing to the improvement of science education infrastructure within the community. Figure 5: Fabrication of laboratory workbenches in Muruka Secondary School Looking ahead, Kandara TVC aims to scale up its Income Generating Activities by increasing production capacity, strengthening collaborations with universities and industry, expanding commercial services, and exploring new markets for products manufactured within the institution. Plans are also underway to establish a dedicated IGA management framework to coordinate marketing, quality assurance, financial management, and business development across all departments. The achievements recorded during the 2025–2026 period demonstrate that Income Generating Activities are more than business ventures they are powerful learning platforms that bridge the gap between education and industry. By transforming workshops into centres of innovation and enterprise, Kandara Technical and Vocational College is producing graduates who are technically competent, entrepreneurial, and ready to contribute meaningfully to Kenya’s socio-economic development.