A new era of leadership has begun at the Kitale National Polytechnic with the official handover of leadership from the outgoing Principal, Mr. John Otieno Akola, to Dr. Tom Mulati.
The ceremony was overseen by Dr. Lawrence Guantai, the director in charge of Training Management at the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA).
Dr. Mulati, who previously served as the Principal of Kisii National Polytechnic, exchanged positions with Mr. Akola, to whom he officially handed over in a similar ceremony on Tuesday.
During the handover ceremony, Dr. Mulati expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to return to the institution, where he had previously served as a trainer before leaving in 2004.
"I am happy to be back and look forward to working closely with the Governing Council and all stakeholders here," Dr. Mulati said, emphasizing his commitment to supporting the polytechnic’s continued growth and excellence.
For his part, Mr. Akola, who has been at the helm since his appointment in 2021, thanked the government for allowing him the opportunity to serve the institution.
"We are grateful to the government for the opportunity to continue serving in the education sector, particularly in skilling the youth for both local and international markets," Mr. Akola stated.
He reiterated the focus on improving vocational training and recognition through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) system, which aims to certify the skills of individuals based on their experiences.
This change in leadership is expected to strengthen the already well-established institutions as both polytechnics continue to offer quality education and training that equips students with critical skills for the workforce.
Dr. Guantai highlighted the pivotal role that both Kitale and Kisii National Polytechnics play in the TVET sector, given their large student populations.