Kenya’s leading retailer Naivas Supermarket has partnered with seven Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to strengthen practical skills training and expand employment opportunities for young Kenyans, with more than 300 students and graduates already recruited into its stores nationwide.
The partnership, formalised through the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) at the retailer’s Nairobi head office, aims to bridge the gap between classroom training and workplace demands, particularly in the retail sector’s fresh food operations, including bakery and deli departments.
The ceremony was attended by the Principal Secretary for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, who backed the collaboration as a model for aligning training with employers’ needs and equipping graduates with market-relevant skills.
Naivas Chief Executive Officer Andreas Von Paleske said the initiative reflects the retailer’s commitment to developing local talent and creating meaningful career opportunities for young people.
The partnership builds on several years of collaboration between Naivas and the institutions, through which students have accessed industrial attachments and practical training in the retailer’s stores.
The retailer has also involved its bakery and deli specialists in reviewing and aligning training curricula with industry standards, helping ensure that graduates acquire the technical skills and workplace experience required in modern retail operations.
The formal agreements will provide a framework for expanding cooperation in curriculum development, internships, industrial attachments, recruitment, knowledge sharing and continued engagement between the education institutions and the retail industry.
Beyond training and recruitment, the collaboration has also developed into a commercial relationship, with participating institutions supplying products to Naivas and engaging with the retailer as a market partner.
This creates opportunities for both sides to benefit while supporting skills development and economic growth.
The PS praised the initiative, noting the importance of industry-led partnerships in preparing graduates for available jobs and ensuring that technical training responds to changing labour market demands.
The signing ceremony brought together Naivas executive committee members, its human resources leadership, senior representatives of the participating institutions, government officials and stakeholders from the education and retail sectors.
The partnership comes as employers and training institutions seek closer collaboration to improve the transition from education to employment.
By combining practical workplace exposure, industry-aligned training and recruitment opportunities, Naivas aims to strengthen the supply of skilled workers for Kenya’s growing retail sector.
