The government plans to redouble its efforts to formalise and empower workers in Kenya’s informal sector by introducing skills certification, expanding retirement savings, and providing them with digital access to employment opportunities.
2,727 young people who have gone through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process are expected to graduate at the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) campus on Monday, September 7, 2026.
The programme takes into account the skills gained as a result of many years of practical experience, even if the workers have no formal academic or technical certificates.
Before the event, government officials stated that the aim of the initiative is to make sure that Kenyans who have practical skills are not excluded from employment opportunities just because they do not hold formal qualifications.
Under the RPL scheme, candidates create profiles to record their experience and then go through assessments in order to have their skills verified before they are awarded recognised certificates.
It is expected that the certification will enhance access to employment both locally and abroad. The Government stated that it is collaborating with the World Bank on an initiative which may allow 100 RPL graduates to access opportunities in the Canadian labour market.
The officials stated that the programme will be extended, with the aim of certifying as many as 20,000 workers in the informal sector within the following one to two years.
The informal sector in Kenya employs millions of people in a wide range of occupations such as that of mechanics, plumbers, electricians, providers of beauty services, individuals working in information technology and other technical fields. According to officials, certification would also serve to increase customer confidence by enabling customers to recognise those workers whose skills have been officially verified.
Nairobi health workers issue strike notice over unresolved grievances
Haba Haba to drive savings among informal-sector workers
A key part of the initiative will be the extension of the Haba Haba savings programme, which is intended to prompt Kenyans who are employed in the informal sector to save for their retirement.
The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has stated that it aims at greatly expanding its membership and savings base, with the goal of achieving Sh1 trillion in savings by the end of the 2026/27 financial year.
The Government stresses the importance of extending coverage for retirement savings since so many people employed in the informal economy have no access to the kind of pension schemes that are provided by employers.
The new digital savings platform, as part of the renewed Haba Haba programme, is due to be launched on September 7 with the support of the World Bank.
The platform will have a mobile app and a USSD service so that Kenyans can make savings easily by using their mobile phones.
The officials have stated that the scheme aims at a substantial growth in membership, with the goal of having millions more Kenyans join formal retirement savings in the coming years.
The programme is already in the pilot phase, the officials stating that about 300,000 members are currently saving as a result of the initiative.
The government also wants to encourage among the Kenyans a more robust culture of saving and investing, especially those who are employed in the informal sector.
It was argued by the officials that higher levels of savings could in the end lead to more investment and increased economic participation, on the condition that savers receive attractive returns on their investments.
Digital platform to connect customers with verified technicians
On 7 September the event will also include the launching of an application for technicians, whose purpose is to link customers with qualified workers.
Technicians will be able to set up accounts and promote their services, and customers in turn will be able to search for technicians according to their skills.
The Government stated that the skills of the technicians listed on the platform will be checked by the relevant authorities, such as NITA and other suitable government bodies.
This is a measure aimed at dealing with a typical problem in the informal sector, namely that customers often find it difficult to assess whether a technician actually has the skills needed to carry out a particular job.
It is expected that informal-sector workers will have more opportunities to grow their businesses and to improve their economic security because of the combination of skills certification, digital visibility, and access to savings.
The September 7 event is anticipated to bring together senior government officials, the development partners and the beneficiaries of the programmes, and the officials also hoped that President William Ruto would serve as the president of the graduation.
The government stated that the event will signal the start of a more aggressive national campaign aimed at identifying, evaluating and certifying workers whose skills have been gained through experience.
Since millions of Kenyans earn a living in the informal economy, the officials have stated that the final aim is to make sure that the workers are not left behind and are able to take advantage of both local and international opportunities while achieving financial security through measures such as Haba Haba.
