Dr. Alice Kande Welcomes Government Push on Skills Recognition and Youth Empowerment
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By John Kariuki
The Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA), Dr. Alice Kande, has welcomed the government’s renewed commitment to expanding access to skills recognition and youth empowerment. Her remarks follow the release of the July 2025 Cabinet Memo highlighting progress on the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) framework and its strategic alignment with the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme.
Dr. Kande described the move as a major breakthrough in bridging the gap between informal skills and formal employment opportunities. She noted that many young Kenyans acquire valuable competencies through informal and experiential learning, yet lack the certification required for employment or further training.
“The Recognition of Prior Learning framework ensures that no skill goes unrecognized. By aligning it with NYOTA, we are giving our youth an official pathway to better jobs, entrepreneurship, and further education,” she said.
The collaboration between KNQA and NYOTA is expected to enhance national efforts to tackle youth unemployment by formally validating skills acquired outside traditional academic settings. Dr. Kande emphasized that this would enable individuals to transition into structured training and productive employment, thereby creating a future-ready workforce.
She also highlighted the ongoing development of the National Qualifications Framework and the National Qualifications Database as vital components in supporting the RPL process. These tools, she explained, will help streamline skills verification, promote quality assurance, and ensure that qualifications are recognized across sectors.
Dr. Kande commended the government for prioritizing youth in its development agenda, noting that such initiatives are essential for inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
“Recognizing prior learning validates the hard work and creativity of our people—especially the youth. It is an important step toward inclusive development and national productivity,” she added.
She reaffirmed KNQA’s commitment to working closely with stakeholders—including industry players, training institutions, and government agencies—to fully operationalize the RPL framework and extend its benefits to millions of Kenyans.
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