Plans on Course to Fast Track a Garment Making Cluster Project in Kisumu County

The newly established Kisumu garment making cluster project is set to improve the livelihoods of Kisumu County Residents once operational. The Director, Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Bashir Mursal observed that once in place, the garment project will provide additional income for Kisumu county residents and the region at large. The Director encouraged the management of Kisumu National Polytechnic to take advantage of the project as it will provide employment opportunities to the youth.

Speaking while representing the Principal Secretary, State Department of Science and Technology in the Ministry of Education, Prof. Collette Suda, the Director noted that such projects play a key role in community outreach and technology transfer. He made the remarks during the opening of a sensitization meeting on the garment cluster project at a Nairobi hotel.

Addressing participants, the Principal, Kisumu polytechnic Joyce Nyajom said the project has been funded under the COMESA programs to the tune of approximately 18.3 million shillings. She said her institution in collaboration with Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology (RIAT) will ensure the project’s implementation is successful. She said the project will provide the youth with skills that will make them self reliant through self employment.

Other partners in the project include the ministries of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, as well as Ministry of Industrialization and Enterprise Development. The Principal Ramogi Institute of advanced Technology (RIAT) said this is a pioneer project and its aim is to advance the idea about technology incubation and how it can improve the lives of the local community.

The meeting brought together stakeholders from partnering institutions among them the Director of TVET, Technical University of Kenya Akumu-Owuor. Other cluster initiatives in the country include the beef cluster in Garissa, the Dairy cluster in Rift valley, fisheries cluster in Kisumu and the mineral cluster in Taita Taveta among others.