Information and Communication Technology Training, Industrial Attachment, and Graduate Employability: Policy Lessons from Kenya

Abstract

Youth unemployment remains a major development challenge in Kenya despite sustained investments in education and skills training. This study examined the contribution of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training, soft skills development, and industrial attachment to graduate employability, drawing evidence from the Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP). Anchored in Human Capital Theory and the School-to-Work Transition framework, the study employed a mixed-methods approach within a quasi-experimental pretest–post-test design. Data were collected from 1,200 KYEOP beneficiaries trained between 2018 and 2023, complemented by a focused field study involving 240 trainees from Kwale, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Kisumu counties. Quantitative data were analyzed using correlation and multiple regression techniques, while qualitative evidence was generated through interviews and trainee reflections. Findings revealed that ICT and soft skills training significantly enhanced trainees’ competencies. Strong positive relationships were observed between baseline and endline soft skills (r = .927) and technical skills (r = .952), indicating substantial improvement following training. Industrial attachment emerged as the strongest contributor to workplace readiness, with the relationship between attachment and workplace exposure increasing from a weak baseline correlation (r = .231) to an exceptionally strong endline correlation (r = .957, p < .01). Further analysis demonstrated that attachment and internship skills had the strongest association with overall employability (r = .553), followed by soft skills training (r = .410), basic work skills (r = .386), and technical ICT skills (r = .369). Multiple regression results showed that work preparedness, technical training skills, basic work skills, soft skills, and processing skills collectively explained 38.8% of the variation in youth employability (R² = .388). The study concludes that graduate employability is multidimensional and is significantly strengthened through the integration of ICT training, soft skills development, and structured industrial attachment. It recommends institutionalizing work-integrated learning, strengthening industry partnerships, and expanding access to digital skills training to improve school-to-work transition outcomes and sustainable youth employment in Kenya.

Keywords: Graduate Employability; Information and Communication Technology Training; Industrial Attachment; School-to-Work Transition; Youth Employment.

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/17-7-02

Publication date: July 30^th 2026