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Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration, Dr Raymond Omollo, has defended the government’s decision to designate Kisumu National Polytechnic as the Regional Flagship TVET Institute for Textile Technology (RFTITT) under the Ksh1.2 billion Eastern Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP).
In a statement shared on his official X account today, Sunday, April 13, 2025, Omollo explained that the institution’s selection was not only strategic but also deeply aligned with the region’s longstanding history in cotton farming, milling, and garment production.
“Kisumu National Polytechnic’s location in the heart of Western Kenya, where cotton once flourished, makes it an ideal centre for textile training and innovation,” he said. “This decision was informed by a combination of historical relevance, technical capacity, and the institution’s proven track record in vocational training.”
EASTRIP, a transformative regional initiative funded by the World Bank and coordinated through the Ministry of Education, seeks to strengthen technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in select East African countries. In Kenya, five top institutions are participating, with Kisumu Polytechnic leading the textile manufacturing component.
According to the PS, the polytechnic is implementing a modern learning factory model, designed to bridge the gap between classroom instruction and real-world industrial practice. The textile training hub under construction will be equipped with cutting-edge facilities to support this goal.
The upcoming facility includes a comprehensive administrative wing—complete with a Head of Department’s office (en suite), deputy’s office, reception, records office, staff room, boardroom, storage areas, kitchenette, janitor’s room, and gender-inclusive washrooms.
On the learning front, the hub will feature 20 classrooms, four studio rooms, two textile design computer labs, two quality control testing labs, two specialised printing rooms, five workshops, and a research and case study room.
Additionally, the project incorporates thoughtful provisions for recreation and welfare. A restaurant, amphitheatre, gym, prayer rooms, daycare, and lactation areas are all part of the design. Accommodation facilities will include 100-bed student hostels and another 100 beds set aside for international exchange students.
For operations and security, the hub will have a generator room, controlled entry and exit points, ample parking, landscaped gardens, service yards, and dedicated server rooms.
“This isn’t just about building infrastructure. It’s about equipping our youth with the skills needed to thrive in the competitive textile industry and transforming Kisumu into a regional centre of excellence,Omollo concluded.
Police Reforms
This comes hours after he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to police reforms, despite a recent court ruling declaring the presidential taskforce set up to oversee them as unconstitutional.
In a statement made on Sunday, Omollo emphasised the government’s unwavering focus on improving the working conditions of police officers.
He stated, “There can be no development without security. Police officers, like all Kenyans, deserve decent working conditions, and we must facilitate them.”
The ruling, delivered on Thursday by Justice Lawrence Mugambi, found that President William Ruto had overstepped his powers by appointing a task force that duplicated the functions of the National Police Service Commission (NPSC). As a result, the court ruled that the taskforce’s decisions were invalid.
Despite this setback, Omollo, who chairs the National Steering Committee on the Implementation of the Maraga Taskforce Reforms, clarified that the reforms were a core part of President Ruto’s campaign promise.
He said, “When the president was campaigning, one of his biggest commitments was to support the security sector, and one of his first assignments in office was to set up a team to look into the terms of service for police, prisons, and NYS.”
The government plans to press ahead with reforms in areas such as housing, equipment, and technology, though the court’s ruling raises questions about the legality of continuing under the current framework.