RTI CELEBRATES HISTORIC ANNIVERSARIES WITH GRADUATION OF 1,135 LOGISTICS AND ENGINEERING PROFESSIONAL

 
RTI leadership and distinguished guests celebrate the 62nd Open Graduation Ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya, honoring academic excellence and railway heritage.

By Maximilla Wafula 

NAIROBI, KENYA - Behind every mile of newly laid track, modernized commuter train, and revamped maritime port lies a critical ingredient that steel and concrete alone cannot provide: human talent. Today, the Railway Training Institute (RTI) underscored its role as the quiet powerhouse driving East Africa's transit revolution. At its 62nd Open Graduation Ceremony, the institute unleashed 1,135 highly skilled professionals into the market a massive injection of human capital precisely when the region’s transport and logistics sectors need it most.

The vibrant ceremony wasn't just a celebration of individual academic success; it marked a deep alignment between Kenya's past and its future. The event coincided with two historic milestones: 70 years of academic excellence for RTI since 1956, and 130 years of railway heritage in Kenya since development began in 1896. However, the spotlight remained firmly on the Class of 2026. These certificate and diploma holders are stepping directly into an economy undergoing rapid, high-stakes structural changes.

As the government pushes forward with aggressive transit expansions, the demand for localized, technical expertise has skyrocketed. Speaking at the event, Mr. Mohamed Daghar, CBS, the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Transport, emphasized that infrastructure is only as good as the people running it. The government is actively expanding strategic transport networks, specifically targeting Phase 2B and Phase 2C of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to bolster regional connectivity. Furthermore, with Kenya Railways officially transitioning into a Government-Owned Enterprise under the Government-Owned Enterprises Act, 2025, the focus has shifted toward commercial sustainability and institutional efficiency.

"The success of this modern system relies entirely on a highly skilled workforce," PS Daghar noted, framing the graduates not just as job seekers, but as the literal stewards of these multi-billion-shilling public investments.

To meet these modern demands, RTI is no longer teaching the curriculum of the past. Kenya Railways Board Chairman, Mr. Abdi Bare Duale, highlighted major strides in technical training, including the completion of Phase One of the Kisumu Campus Master Plan. Funded by the World Bank, this initiative has successfully established a state-of-the-art Marine Safety Training Centre to anchor the maritime sector.

RTI Board of Governors Chairperson and the Institute's Director, Chrp Asava Kadima, both re-affirmed that the institute has aggressively modernized its Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) framework. The new vanguard of graduates has been uniquely prepared to navigate automation, artificial intelligence, and green energy solutions within the transit space.

As the Class of 2026 steps out into the Nairobi Metropolitan Area and the wider African continent, they carry the weight of a proud dual legacy. They leave RTI urged to act not merely as employees, but as structural anchors, adapters, and visionary leaders who will shape the logistics, maritime, and engineering landscapes of Africa.