Parents and prospective students stormed Nakuru Technical Training College, seeking answers on the legality of the institution, after noting the school was calling for enrolment of students yet it has not been accredited to operate.

In the company of activist and chairperson of Friends of Devolution and Accountability Forum, Benson Macharia, he noted that the said institution is missing out on minimum requirements to warrant them to operate.

“To see that they are already having their fliers out advertising the institution and calling students for their January intake beats the order of running an intuition. Do you call for students first then work on the registration later, that's our biggest ask,” he questions.

Macharia notes that they uncovered the issue during a crackdown after learning about registrations taking place in the building over the past week, adding that upon getting to the school and asking the staff to offer parents an explanation, they all ran away without a word.

“None of our questions on the examination body used by the school, the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) license and leases arrangement to the building which should be at least five years to assure students education security was answered,” he notes

According to Macharia, some students had already registered and paid part of the fee only to realize the school had no equipment and necessary furniture to accommodate them.

One of the students who sought enrolment in the school, Simon Sangale notes that he was asked to pay a tuition fee of Sh 1,000 to register, after which he would clear the Sh 2,500 required for him to pursue computer packages at the college.

“Old as I am, I decided to pursue a computer course so that I can take up online jobs which the president has over time put emphasis in as a way to make money. To my disappointment, I paid the money, but the school is taking me in circles on when I can start my course,” he angrily says.

In a phone call interview with the Deputy Regional Director of TVET in charge of Nakuru and Baringo Counties, Rosemary Kimani noted that the institution has not been registered under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA).

“We received complains about the institution. However, the college is not registered with us thus we cannot intervene in the matter. Our compliance and audit department can only vet institutions which are registered under TVETA to confirm on compliance, an example being whether the institution’s courses are accredited, among others. Should any parent be experiencing an issue with the institution this is a matter to be handled by police,” she notes.

Ms Kimani, however, urged parents to do due diligence on checking whether an institution is registered through TVETA website before proceeding to secure a placement for their children.

Responding to the matter, one of the directors at the Nakuru Technical Training College notes that all the drama is arising because of unfair competition from an institution most of the teachers at their college were working for.

“I would say this is an attempt to sabotage us before we even start. The institution is in the process of setting up and a former employer is trying to make sure this will not happen. We are in the process of registering ourselves and we have not started our operation. We anticipate to open our doors to students come January 2025,” they noted.

They further mention that, the supposed students purporting to have interest in learning in their school are hired goons who moved to the college on malicious attempt of acquiring documents and later using them to cause mayhem.

They further mentioned that they will be taking up the matter with their lawyers and make sure the institution's reputation is on the clear.

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Leleti Jassor