DeKUT hosts Kenya's First Mechatronics WorldSkills Competitionthat saw DeKUT Team emerge  winners with 71.6 points followed by Kiambu Institute of Technology with 49. 09 points

The WorldSkills International Competition is the peak vocational skills competition for young people across the world. It was started in Spain in 1950 and is currently in 85 countries across the globe. On 13th October 2020, WorldSkills Kenya (WSK) was ratified as the 84th state to host skills competitions. Kenya is preparing to participate in the upcoming competition organized by WorldSkills International (WSI).

Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT), as one of the TVET institutions approved by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, was tasked by Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVETA) to organize WSK in Mechatronics. This was engineered by Prof. Eng. Jean BoscoByiringiro (Ph.D., Reg. Eng.) by preparing excellent competitors at DeKUT Siemens Mechatronics Certification Centre. After 15 days of training, the competition’s opening ceremony officially took place on Monday 23^rd August, 2021. The  Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Esther Magiri, WorldSkills Kenya Delegate, Prof. E. OkothOgur, Director General TVETA, Dr. Kipkirui Langat, among others were present to officiate and officially declare the competition on.

The competition attracted 17 colleges, both TVET institutions and technical universities. The colleges that participated in the competition included Coast Institute of Technology, Mukiria TTI, Musakara TTI, Katine TTI, Ahmed S. Mwidani TTI, Mumias West TTI, Masinga TTI, Okame TTI, Kipsoen TTI, Kenya Technical Trainers College, North Eastern National Polytechnic, Wamingu TTI and Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology. There were also 7 teams from the university. The teams competed against each other.

After several competitive sessions, the WorldSkills Mechatronics Competition ended on Friday 27^th August 2021,  with Kiambu Institute, Victoria Wanjiku and DisraelNgeresa from the TVET Institutions and MaxwelMagoi and Elsie Makara from DeKUT emerging the winners. DeKUT’s team scored 71.6 marks, while Kiambu Institute of Technology’s team scored 49.04 marks.)

"This pilot exercise will enable WorldSkills Kenya (WSK) to enhance the country's national competition frameworks in preparation for the competition.I congratulate all the teams that took part in the competition. You have worked hard to reach here. The competition was not just about winning but rather to evaluate yourself and determine what you need to do to get to the next level" -stated the Vice Chancellor, Prof. NdiranguKioni, during the closing ceremony.He added that Kenya joining the WorldSkills Competition will give the young people an opportunity to compete with the rest at a global stage.

We were honored to host this first of its kind competition in Kenya.

Congratulations to all the contestants and the winners.