NAIROBI, Kenya- President William Ruto has launched the Fundi Locator portal and a revamped Haba Haba savings scheme as the government seeks to connect informal workers with customers and help them build financial security.
The initiatives were unveiled at State House, Nairobi, on Thursday during a Recognition of Prior Learning graduation ceremony, where 3,727 young Kenyans received certificates for skills acquired outside formal classrooms.
The event also marked three milestones under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme.
Portal to link fundis with customers
Fundi Locator is a national skills-matching and exchange portal intended to connect recognised artisans with customers and employers.
Ruto said the platform would help customers find workers whose skills had been assessed and certified.
“For too long, finding work has depended on who you know. We are moving from connections to connectivity,” he said.
The portal is part of the government’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme, which assesses skills gained through work experience, apprenticeships and informal training.
The programme is intended to give workers such as mechanics, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, welders and tailors formal recognition of their abilities.
Ruto said 177,338 Kenyans had come forward for RPL, with more than 108,000 screened and 97,134 assessed.
Under Cycle Two of NYOTA, 63,825 applicants enrolled and 4,543 sat the final assessment. Of those, 3,727 were certified as competent.
He said the certificates should help workers seek employment, compete for contracts, negotiate better pay and access further training.
Those assessed as partially competent, he said, could improve their skills and return for certification.
Haba Haba savings scheme revamped
The government also launched a revamped Haba Haba Savings Scheme for people earning outside regular salaried employment.
Ruto said informal workers often earn money irregularly, but should still have a way to save and build assets.
“Irregular income must not mean an insecure future,” he said.
Ruto linked the three initiatives, saying RPL would recognise a worker’s skills, Fundi Locator would make those skills easier to find, and Haba Haba would help workers save from their earnings.
He also pointed to demand for skilled workers in the affordable housing programme, saying 303,910 housing units were under construction and required tradespeople including masons, electricians, plumbers, carpenters and painters.
He said the programme had created more than 1.1 million jobs and opportunities.
