By Correspondent | Wajir Today | Wednesday 15 April 2026

The April 2026 National Trade Test examinations for vocational trainees began in Mandera County, with local officials saying the programme underscores efforts to expand skills development and ease entry into the job market.

Mandera County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Education and Human Capital Development, Bashir Ibrahim Alio, said 912 trainees from seven vocational training centres are sitting for the assessments, which started on April 13.

The candidates are being examined across six National Industrial Training Authority (NITA)-accredited centres in Mandera, Takaba, Rhamu, Elwak, Banissa and Rhamu Dimtu, in trades including electrical installation, motor vehicle mechanics, welding, fashion design and food and beverage production.

Alio said the county government and its partners had fully covered examination fees for all candidates in a bid to remove financial barriers to certification.

“This support ensures that no trainee is left behind due to inability to pay examination fees,” he said at the launch event.

According to county data, 423 trainees are fully sponsored by the Mandera County Government, while 295 are funded by the KCB Foundation. A further 114 trainees are supported under the ELEVATE programme run by OSDA and RACIDA, while 80 are backed by the BORESHA-NABAD programme implemented by RACIDA.

County officials said the examinations are aligned with labour market demand, focusing on technical skills seen as critical for employment and self-employment opportunities in the region.

Alio added that graduates would receive start-up toolkits to help them transition nto self-employment and entrepreneurship.