A Historical Perspective, Skill Development in the Informal Sector in Kenya: Policy Gaps, Challenges and the Way Forward

Abstract

The Government of Kenya recognizes the importance of education and training in national development. It is for this reason that since the country becoming politically independent in 1963, the Government has developed relevant legal and policy frameworks for the provision of quality and equitable education. Despite all these efforts, large skill gaps exist which is an impediment to economic growth. The policy formulation to a large extent has not addressed the skills development problem in relation to self-employment.Increasing enrolment at all levels has been the hallmark of performance of the education system, under the international call to implement Education for All (EFA). The education system has increasingly turned out a large number of school leavers at all levels. Many of these graduates lack skills to obtain gainful employment in the formal sector. Skills shortages affect the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which are driving the creation of jobs. This issue has not been addressed adequately by national polices on education and training.This paper explores skills shortage and skills gap in the informal sector as separate and distinct phenomena, discusses the weaknesses of the Kenya Government policies on skills development. It also explores theories that support skills development and transfer and makes relevant recommendations towards the improvement of skills development in Kenya.

Keywords: Skills gap, Skills gap analysis, Informal sector, Skills training, Skills transfer