On 9th July 2025, the Military Wives Association of Kenya (MWAK), led by the Chairperson Mrs. Grace Kahariri, convened a collaborative engagement with representatives of Huawei a global technology giant to explore a transformative partnership aimed at empowering Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) dependents at MWAK headquarters.
During the meeting, Mrs. Kahariri reiterated MWAK’s ongoing commitment to empowering youths and special needs dependents of KDF personnel through a flagship program, Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) on Wheels. This initiative, being developed in collaboration with Defence Forces Technical College (DEFTECH), Family Group Foundation (FGF) and KDF leadership, is designed to expand access to technical education and promote household resilience across diverse regions.
Deputy commandant DEFTEC Col (Dr.) John Kisilu, provided an update on the evolution of the TVET on wheels concept, emphasizing its end-to-end approach from training to employment. The program, aligns with the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF), and will offer Level 3 Artisan and Level 4 Craft Certificate courses in Electrical Installation, Solar PV, Plumbing, Masonry, Welding, and ICT. Incorporating also soft skills training to ensure graduates are competitive and employable.
Family Group Foundation Executive Director Mr. John Waimiri, in his remarks highlighted the strong partnership between MWAK and the Family Group Foundation (FGF), which began in 2023. Through the partnership 200 youths have benefited with training on technical skills, starter toolkits, and National Construction Authority (NCA) accreditation.
He praised the TVET on wheels program as a high-return social investment with significant potential to transform lives and uplift household incomes.
The Director of Partnership and Government Affairs Huawei Mr. Adam Lane, shared the organizations vast experience in digital infrastructure and inclusive community empowerment, spotlighting programs such as ICT Training which have collectively trained over 1,700 youths and women across Kenya, supporting internet infrastructure in schools and institutions as well as offering jobs and internships.
Discussions during the meeting focused on multiple avenues through which Huawei could support MWAK’s empowerment agenda. These included introducing apps to KDF schools to support technology-based projects such as kitchen gardens, enhancing special needs education through connectivity and assistive technologies, integration of ICT in TVET, expanding internet infrastructure within KDF learning institutions, conduct ICT training of trainers to lecturers in the TVET program and empower women, orphans, veterans and Special Needs parents through tailor made training in e-commerce and digital skills to improve income generation. As the next steps, the teams agreed to further develop the proposed ideas and draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for review.
The meeting concluded on an optimistic note, with all parties expressing a unified commitment to build a forward-looking partnership that will positively impact KDF families and foster resilient, tech-driven communities.
In attendance was Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Fatuma Ahmed, Huawei representatives and members of MWAK Executive Committee.
