The Historical Development of Vocational Education and Training for Persons with Visual Impairments in Kenya

Vocational Education and Training (VET) has been shown to be a drive towards socio-economic development for individuals as well as for a country. Considering that persons with disabilities such as those with visual impairments need to be empowered, then VET becomes one of the tools through which Persons with Visual Impairments (PWVI) can be emancipated from dependency to being independent. Whereas the government of Kenya has in the recent past put a lot of emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), the researchers observed that VET for PWVI has attracted little policy, fiscal and research attention. It is in this regard that this article sought to trace the historical development of VET to PWVI in order to determine the exact progress realized and the challenges encountered in order to inform the present situation and future decisions. In achieving this, the researchers followed the historical research design in which data was systematically sought from the various relevant sources, authenticated and analyzed before being presented as historical evidence. The study established that the provision of VET to PWVI in Kenya has grown from a single institution in 1946, to the current situation where all the VET institutions admit all learners including those with visual impairments. In addition, the study established that there are two VET institutions that exclusively provides education and training to PWVI. The study however concludes that there is much that still needs to be done towards equipping such institutions to be able to cater for persons with disabilities such as PWVI. The number of VET institutions for PWVI can be increased from the current two or the existing institutions can be well equipped to encourage inclusion.