Kisumu, Kenya| In a resounding affirmation of visionary leadership and financial integrity, Principal Secretary for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Dr. Esther Thaara Muoria has been bestowed with two prestigious national awards during the 2025 End of Year Public Service Reflection Dinner and Agenda-Setting Retreat held in Kisumu.
The distinguished honours – the Achievement of an Unmodified Audit Opinion Award and the Transformational Leadership Award – recognise Dr. Muoria’s outstanding stewardship of the State Department for TVET and its remarkable progress in governance, institutional modernisation, and public resource management.
A Rare Clean Audit: Symbol of Prudent Financial Stewardship
Receiving an unmodified (clean) audit opinion from the Office of the Auditor-General is widely regarded as the gold standard in public sector financial management.
It signals robust internal controls, transparent accounting practices, and zero material misstatements – achievements that have eluded many government entities.
Under Dr. Muoria’s leadership, the State Department for TVET became one of the few public institutions to consistently attain this coveted status, demonstrating exemplary prudence in the management of billions of shillings allocated for infrastructure development, equipment procurement, and trainee support programmes nationwide.
The Transformational Leadership Award celebrates Dr. Muoria’s strategic vision in repositioning Kenya’s TVET sector as a cornerstone of industrialisation and youth empowerment.
During her tenure, the sector has undergone comprehensive modernisation, with more than 200 TVET institutions now equipped with state-of-the-art workshops and cutting-edge digital learning facilities.
Governance structures have been significantly strengthened through enhanced oversight mechanisms and robust anti-corruption frameworks.
Dr. Muoria has spearheaded the rollout of competency-based education and training (CBET) curricula that are fully aligned with current and emerging industry needs, while operational efficiency and performance contracting results have seen remarkable improvement across the board.
At the same time, inclusive programmes have been expanded to reach marginalised groups, women, and persons with disabilities, ensuring that technical training opportunities are accessible to all segments of society.
These far-reaching reforms have translated into higher enrolment figures, better graduation rates, and much stronger partnerships between training institutions and industry players.
“Glory to God and Gratitude to the Entire Ecosystem”
In her acceptance remarks, a visibly moved Dr. Muoria attributed the accolades to divine grace and collective effort:
“I give glory and honour to God for this recognition. It is a humbling affirmation of what can be achieved when an entire ecosystem moves with unity of purpose.”
She dedicated both awards to the dedicated staff of the State Department for TVET, development partners, instructors, and thousands of trainees across Kenya, praising their creativity, resilience, and unwavering commitment to reform.
“Every milestone reflects the courage and determination of our staff and trainees to learn, innovate, and build a stronger Kenya,” she added.
Dr. Muoria emphasised that the recognition would inject fresh momentum into ongoing initiatives aimed at making Kenya’s TVET system globally competitive, industry-relevant, and fully inclusive.
Setting the Pace for Public Service Excellence
Colleagues and senior government officials present at the Kisumu retreat hailed the double honour as a new benchmark for excellence in public administration.
The awards underscore the transformative power of integrity, innovation, and disciplined, results-oriented leadership in delivering public value.
The three-day retreat also provided a strategic platform for public service leaders to reflect on 2025 accomplishments and chart priority areas for 2026, including accelerated digital transformation, climate-resilient infrastructure, and enhanced service delivery.
As Kenya pursues its Vision 2030 ambition of becoming a newly industrialised middle-income nation, leaders like Dr. Esther Muoria continue to demonstrate that world-class technical training, anchored on accountability and innovation, remains a critical enabler of sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity.
With these latest accolades, the State Department for TVET has firmly positioned itself as a pacesetter in public sector governance reform – proof that excellence is achievable even within the complexities of government administration.
