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Currently, Kenya is going through a construction boom, especially with mega projects such as the LAPSSET corridor in Lamu. Notably, plumbing skills are needed in any project that entails conveying fluids such as potable (drinking) water, sewage and drainage, oil, gas, and so forth. However, despite the plumbing sector having a wide range of occupations with so many opportunities, the country is still facing an acute shortage of qualified plumbers and masons, as more people shun in-demand technical and artisan courses in favour of courses leading to perceived glamorous careers. It has been reported since 2014 that Kenya is facing an acute shortage of plumbers, a problem that has persisted up to now and increased the cost of projects. In the coast region, for instance, there were about 1,000 architects and engineers against 200 trained artisans specialising in masonry, plumbing and painting as of 2017 – a situation that ought to be the opposite, according to David Kanyi – Kenya Projects founder and chief executive officer – who argues that it is a very serious problem that has already gravitated into a crisis, and “if we go on like this the construction sector is likely to get into a halt in the near future”. With such developments, CAP YEI has found plumbing, in many counties, to be one of the courses with high potential to create job and business opportunities for the youth.
