Q&A: Kenya on track to develop green hydrogen workforce

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The East African nation of Kenya is making steady progress in developing a skilled workforce for the emerging green hydrogen sector, says Javan Chiro, Senior Industrial Training Officer at the National Industrial Training Authority NITA. He cites initiatives like training master trainers to lay the groundwork for rapid skills growth.

• Mr Chiro highlights the establishment of NITA as a clear commitment by Kenya to develop a specialised workforce for emerging sectors like green hydrogen, demonstrating the country’s focus on building local expertise to support new industries.

• Though Kenya is still in the early stages of developing green hydrogen skills, the Mechanical Engineer is optimistic that ongoing efforts will soon produce a skilled pool of specialists ready to support the sector’s growth.

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What is NITA and what is its core mandate?

Javan Chiro: NITA is an assessment and certifying body with five centres across the country. As an authority, we are clearly mandated to spearhead industrial training. And when we talk about industrial training, we are in charge, as an authority, of any incoming, or what we call "new technologies" in the country. So, when any new technology enters Kenya, NITA, based on our mandate through an Act of Parliament, is supposed to lead the way and ensure that in any trade area that lacks specialisation, there’s a trained labour force in place.

What specific role is NITA playing in building a skilled workforce for Kenya’s green hydrogen and Power-to-X industries?

Javan Chiro: NITA has gazetted what we call a Skill Upgrading Scheme, which is mandated to accelerate the acquisition of skills in the country. This scheme is specifically designed to spearhead and fast-track skills development. Now, with the emergence of green hydrogen, which is a new technology, the scheme becomes very relevant and critical in building the local workforce quickly, so that when investors come in, they find a ready pool of skilled workers.

The scheme focuses on designing a Unit of Competence, what we call the National Occupational Standards. What NITA can do, and do quickly, is develop a Qualification Pack and Occupational Standards for green hydrogen, and begin the process of training and assessment. The skilled workforce is already there — what’s missing is just this specific component. And that’s where we step in, to help the country accelerate its workforce development for the sector — particularly in hydrogen generation and PtX (Power-to-X) technologies.

As other African countries develop green hydrogen training hubs, is NITA considering establishing similar hubs or partnerships to build local expertise and reduce reliance on expatriates in Kenya?

Javan Chiro: When you look at the broader mandate, that may not be the goal. But for NITA, the key focus is to ensure there’s a pool of skilled personnel in that area. And we come in because, first, we are a certified qualification authority — we issue national qualifications under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework. Under the skills pathway, we’re allowed to qualify and certify people in those specific areas.

So, what NITA will do is build internal capacity, train our own teams to handle those areas effectively. I’ve already been capacity-built by GIZ as a master trainer of trainers (TOT), so it's now easier for us to roll this out. However, we still need more of our staff to be upskilled — particularly in automobile, electrical, and refrigeration sectors.

Has NITA developed any policy frameworks or national guidelines to support fast-tracked training and upskilling for the green hydrogen sector?

Javan Chiro: Yes, it’s a national scheme. Unlike the usual apprenticeship schemes, which take a long time because you start with fresh graduates and take them through the whole process, this one is faster. To accelerate the process, the easiest way is to take those who are already qualified, for instance welders, then add the hydrogen component. That way, you prepare them for the hydrogen market. It’s the same for engineers — we don’t have specific green hydrogen engineers, but we take the existing engineering experts, retrain them, and build their capacity in green hydrogen.

How is NITA ensuring that green hydrogen training opportunities are inclusive—particularly for youth, women, persons with disabilities, and those transitioning from other sectors?

Javan Chiro: Normally, when such programs are launched, there are clear guidelines on the number of female engineers, male engineers, and youths within specific age brackets. So, if we get a donor, they usually come with their own specifications. Wherever affirmative action for youths and women applies, it becomes much easier to ensure inclusivity.

In your view, where does Kenya currently stand in developing skills for the green hydrogen sector

Javan Chiro: For now, I would say it’s basically zero. But in the last three weeks, there’s been good progress, starting with the master trainer of trainers. In the next few weeks, those master trainers will train others, so we’ll have a pool of trainers. That means the country is preparing to build a skilled workforce for the sector. Right now, we’re focusing more on developing units of competence, not just units of participation.

Looking ahead five years, what is your projection for the growth of green hydrogen skills in Kenya—and what will it take to get there?

Javan Chiro: Well, I see the numbers rising to maybe a hundred, a thousand, or even more. The low-hanging fruits are those already qualified in certain engineering fields. You add that unit of competence and certify them. Now it’s up to the Ministry of Education and the Minister of Labour to provide the funding so we can speed up the process.

Any final thoughts?

Javan Chiro: I believe Kenya is now truly on the path to achieving net zero. If we implement the strategies we have in place effectively, and with a strong political goodwill, the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C will no longer just be a song, it will become our reality. I envision a future where the entire country embraces green hydrogen. That’s the best way forward.