Pastor Dorcas Rigathi has ended her three-day visit to Embu County by visiting the Tenri Vocational Training Centre.
She encouraged the students by saying the skills they are getting are what is required.
The visit on Thursday evening had her touring the facility as well as addressing the students at the institution.
She was accompanied by Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, Deputy Governor Justus Mugo, Senator Alexander Mundigi, County MP Pamela Njoki, and the spouse of Mbeere South MP Catherine Muriuki.
"As I toured your institution, I would have done a pedicure if I had the time. Our President is emphasizing the technical skills among our young people because the white collar jobs are not there but the market is ripe with jobs for those with technical skills," she said.
She shared with the students about her vision of dignifying the boy child, warning them against indulging them in alcohol and drug abuse.
Pastor Dorcas advocates for, TVETs to feature prominently in the final stage where those rehabilitated are skilled and ready for employment, business, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Mbarire on the other hand said it was a long time since the institution received such a high profile visitor.
This, she said, signified the role of TVETs in the bigger vision of the office of the spouse of the Deputy President (OSDP) in skilling boys and men rehabilitated from alcohol, drugs and substance abuse.
"You have decided to end your visit in Embu County at this institution where our young people are being tooled with the necessary skills, and they can be able to earn a living for themselves without waiting for somebody to bring them a job at the doorstep,” she said.
The Governor also affirmed the importance of the vocational institutions in the economic growth of the nation, which would be anchored on technical skills.
She said the students after learning the skills will be absorbed in different projects in the county.
Mbarire encouraged them to do their course well and not settle at the artisan level.
“In the past, we looked for funds to do basic plumbing, tiling and electricals and would lack proper fundi. Currently, we have 400 units going on in the majimbo area and we expect to do another 2,000 houses in the next two years. In every house, a unit employs an average of 7 technical skills – plumber, electrician, mason,” she said.
Pastor Dorcas has visited different TVETs in Kenya, to partner with the institutions to help skill-rehabilitated men.
They include Nachu TVET and Juja Farm TVET (Kiambu County), SOT Technical Institute (Bomet County), and Mong’aria Youth Polytechnic (Nyeri County) among others.