The rapid growth of mining activities and expanding port operations along Kenya’s Coast is inspiring more young people to acquire practical skills that match the region’s growing labour market.
For Leonard Muye from Kilifi County, enrolling for the 30-day Forklift Operation course at Bandari Maritime Academy was a strategic decision driven by the increasing demand for skilled equipment operators in the mining, logistics, and maritime sectors.
Muye says the presence of mining sites in Jaribuni in Kilifi County, Kubo Ward in Kwale County, and the vast mining operations in Taita Taveta County convinced him that forklift operation offers promising career opportunities.
“I looked at the economic activities taking place around us and realised there is a growing demand for qualified forklift operators. With mining expanding in Kilifi, Kwale and Taita Taveta, I saw this as the right time to acquire skills that are directly relevant to the job market,” said Muye.
He adds that the continued growth of maritime infrastructure along the Kenyan coast further strengthened his decision.
“The Port of Mombasa, Lamu Port and Shimoni Fishing Port are creating more opportunities in cargo handling, warehousing, logistics and transport. These sectors require trained forklift operators, making this course a worthwhile investment in my future,” he said.
Muye describes Bandari Maritime Academy as an institution that equips trainees with practical, industry-oriented skills that prepare them for immediate employment.
“The training combines classroom learning with practical experience, giving us the confidence and competence needed to work safely and professionally in different industries,” he noted.
He has urged young people across the Coast region and the rest of Kenya to take advantage of the training opportunities available at the academy and position themselves for careers in the Blue Economy.
“The Blue Economy is creating new opportunities every day. I encourage fellow youth not to wait for opportunities to come to them but to prepare themselves by enrolling in maritime and logistics-related courses at Bandari Maritime Academy. Skills are the key to employment and entrepreneurship,” he said.
Bandari Maritime Academy continues to offer competency-based training programmes designed to support Kenya’s growing maritime, transport, logistics and port sectors while contributing to the country’s Blue Economy agenda.
The academy’s short professional courses provide young people with practical skills that enhance their employability in industries that continue to experience increasing demand for qualified technical personnel.
