Photo courtesy: Elijah Odanga
Mukhwana Tells Students Skills Will Shape Kenya’s Industrial Future
By Peace Muthoka.
Kenyatta University students, industry leaders and government officials gathered in Nairobi during Career Week as Principal Secretary for Industry Dr Juma Mukhwana, CBS, urged learners to align their studies with real world skills that are shaping Kenya’s future of work.
Speaking at the university, Dr Mukhwana said the forum brought together young people and industry players at the right time, when career choices, skills and expectations must match what is happening beyond the classroom. He said Career Week offers students a rare chance to “interact with industry, understand what goes on, and align their training with real life situations.”
At the same time, he praised the university leadership for creating space where students could speak openly about their hopes and fears. “Most of us teach and then leave students to navigate the difficult world of employment alone,” he said, adding that such engagement helps students prepare early for life after graduation.
He specifically thanked Vice Chancellor Prof John Okumu and his team for organising the Career Week, noting that it allows learners to hear directly from professionals, understand emerging trends and identify skills they still need to acquire. According to him, the conversations help students make informed decisions while still in university.
Drawing from his background in industry, Dr Mukhwana noted that skills are changing fast and universities must remain flexible. “The skills in our industry are very dynamic. They change every day,” he said. As a result, he urged universities to work closely with industry to develop new programmes that reflect current realities.
He explained that strong university industry linkages benefit all sides. Industry gains skilled workers, universities stay relevant, and students graduate with confidence. More importantly, he said, students leave campus ready to seek employment or create businesses of their own.
As questions shifted to employability, Dr Mukhwana encouraged students to go beyond textbooks. He pointed to areas such as artificial intelligence, software engineering, networking and automation as key spaces for growth. “Industries are becoming automated and smarter,” he said, adding that future factories will communicate problems and run efficiently with minimal supervision.
Because of this shift, he urged students to be innovative and proactive. He encouraged them to seek extra skills through online learning, practical training and self driven research. According to him, technology is not only changing jobs but also offering solutions to global challenges.
Meanwhile, responding to concerns about harsh economic conditions in manufacturing, Dr Mukhwana dismissed claims that the sector is struggling. Instead, he said the opposite is true. “I have more people setting up industry than trying to leave,” he noted, describing manufacturing as one of Kenya’s strongest employers.
He added that industry remains a major source of wealth creation. “If you rank the richest people in Kenya, most come from industry,” he said, cautioning students not to be misled by negative narratives meant to scare off competition.
To support his point, Dr Mukhwana cited the county aggregation and industrial park in Kirinyaga. He said the facility was designed to host a few factories, yet attracted dozens of investors eager to manufacture there. To him, this showed growing confidence in Kenya’s industrial sector.
Turning to the future, he urged young people to see opportunity where others see risk. He encouraged value addition in areas such as agriculture and manufacturing, saying this is where sustainable jobs and wealth will come from. According to him, manufacturing already plays a key role in the economy and holds even greater promise.
Later, addressing the wider university community, Dr Mukhwana challenged students to think beyond employment and focus on impact. He said every generation faces a defining moment and today’s youth are living in an era shaped by technology and innovation.
He reminded students that Africa must move from exporting raw materials to creating value at home. Kenya, he said, is laying the foundation through industrial parks and supportive policies, but success will depend on skilled and courageous young people.
Dr Mukhwana told students that the country believes in them. However, he said belief must be matched with action. “Dream boldly, rise above fear and acquire the right skills,” he said, adding that young people hold the key to Kenya’s industrial growth and shared prosperity.
