The jobs opportunity behind Kenya's TVET expansion and international shared-services industry
Kenya’s technical education system is becoming an important part of the discussion about the country’s ability to supply workers for international business operations. At the NCBA Economic Forum 2026, David Ndii discussed the growth of TVET enrolment and highlighted the role of Kenya-based shared-services operations supporting businesses across multiple markets.
The discussion connected education policy with the changing employment opportunities available to Kenyan workers. As international companies organise more business functions across different countries, demand for technical, digital and operational skills is becoming an important consideration for the local labour market.
TVET and the changing education pipeline
Ndii discussed the relationship between university education and technical training, arguing that TVET enrolment had overtaken university enrolment. His comments placed attention on the growing importance of practical and technical education in preparing workers for the labour market.
Technical training can support employment across several industries, including technology, manufacturing, logistics and business services. It also provides a route for developing specialised skills that employers require in operational and technical roles.
The broader question is how educational institutions can align training with the needs of businesses that operate in domestic and international markets.
Kenya’s shared-services opportunity
Shared-services operations provide another dimension to the country’s employment potential. These operations allow businesses to manage functions across several markets from a central location, creating demand for workers with technical, administrative and operational capabilities.
Ndii used Glovo’s Kenya operation as an example, saying the company had approximately 600 employees serving 21 markets from the country.
The example highlights the potential for Kenya-based teams to support business operations extending beyond the domestic market. Such roles can connect local workers with international business processes and create employment opportunities in technology-enabled services.
Glovo’s reported operation illustrates the potential
The Glovo example also places attention on the range of skills required to support international operations. Shared-services teams depend on employees who can manage business processes, coordinate activities and work with digital systems across different markets.
For Kenya, the opportunity extends beyond attracting companies to establish local offices. The availability of workers with relevant technical and operational skills is important to the country’s ability to support more complex business functions.
This makes workforce development an economic competitiveness issue, particularly as companies consider where to locate operations serving regional and international markets.
Connecting technical education with employer demand
The forum’s discussion brought together TVET expansion, international business operations and employment. Ndii’s comments highlighted the potential relationship between technical training and the skills demanded by employers operating across multiple markets.
For education institutions, closer alignment with industry requirements can help ensure that training prepares students for available opportunities. For businesses, access to relevant skills supports the expansion of operations and the development of local teams.
Kenya’s ability to benefit from the growth of technology-enabled business services will depend partly on how effectively its education system prepares workers for those roles. The connection between technical training and employer demand will therefore remain important to the country’s digital employment prospects.
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