812 TVET colleges had expired licences: what the audit found, and how to check your college before you pay fees
An Auditor-General report found that 812 of 2,120 registered TVET institutions, and more than 2,400 trainers, were operating with expired licences. The regulator is badly understaffed. Here is what that means for students and how to protect yourself.
TVET colleges train hundreds of thousands of young Kenyans as electricians, mechanics, nurses' aides, chefs, ICT technicians and more. A new audit raises questions about who is checking them.
What the Auditor-General found
| Measure | Finding |
|---|---|
| Institutions with expired licences | 812 of 2,120 (38%), as of November 2025 |
| Trainers with expired licences | 2,424 of 10,893 (22%) |
| Waiting for accreditation since 2014 | 87 institutions |
| Regulator's staff | 62 of 140 approved positions filled; only 4 of 18 accreditation officers |
The findings are from Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu's report on the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) for the year to June 2025. The auditor warned that colleges with expired licences "could continue operating without adhering to the required quality standards", and called the failure to act on accreditation applications a breach of the law.
Why it matters to you
- Quality: licensing is how the state checks that a college has proper equipment, qualified trainers and a sound curriculum.
- Your certificate: employers, licensing bodies and other colleges may question qualifications from unaccredited institutions.
- Funding: government-sponsored placement and student funding generally go through recognised institutions. See HELB funding bands.
How to check your college
- Ask to see the current TVETA licence and check the expiry date.
- Check TVETA's official list of registered and accredited institutions on its official website.
- Confirm the course, not just the college: each programme should be approved, and exams should be set by a recognised body such as KNEC or the TVET CDACC.
- Be wary of colleges that pressure you to pay quickly, refuse to show documents, or promise guaranteed jobs abroad.
What to watch
Parliament is debating six education bills, including one to create a single tertiary funding body. See Parliament is back. Related: youth jobs and skills.
