Govt Orders TVET Graduates to Wear Industry Uniforms, Not Gowns

Students graduating from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in Kenya will no longer wear traditional academic gowns during graduation ceremonies.

This follows a new rule issued by the government.

Education Principal Secretary in charge of TVET, Esther Muoria, announced the policy on Friday during the 6th graduation ceremony at Nyeri National Polytechnic.

She stated that all technical institutions must immediately adopt discipline-specific attire that reflects students’ practical training and professional skills.

Under these new guidelines, graduates will have to wear uniforms related to their fields of study instead of the widely used black gowns commonly used by universities and colleges.

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TVET Graduation Attire: A Shift from Gowns to Professional Uniforms

Mechanics are expected to graduate in overalls, chefs in culinary uniforms, and those from other departments in outfits relevant to their professions.

Muoria stated that the long-standing use of academic gowns in TVET institutions had been borrowed from universities and did not relate to or reflect their institution.

“Going forward, we are not going to be graduating our graduates in gowns like we have been doing. Gowns are academic, and we are technical,” she said.

She added that the revised dress code celebrates the hands-on nature of TVET training while separating the institutions from traditional academic universities.

“So, graduands in the different technical departments will henceforth graduate in their respective work attire. Mechanics will wear overalls, and chefs will wear the chef’s uniform,” Muoria stated.

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Kenya’s Technical Colleges Redefine Graduation Culture and Enhance Training

The announcement placed an important shift in graduation culture for Kenya’s technical colleges, where academic gowns have for years remained the standard attire despite the uphold attire placed by system.

Besides the change in dressing code, Muoria also revealed a broad change aimed at strengthening TVET institutions across the country.

She said the government plans to work on infrastructure, equip colleges with updated training tools and expand staffing levels to meet the demand institute.

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TVET Authority (TVETA) Director General, Timothy Nyongesa Katiambo, officiating the opening a two-day induction programme for 10 interns placed at the Authority by the Public Service Commission (PSC) on February 10, 2026. PHOTO/TVETA.