The KPC-owned polytechnic targets more than 30 certified welders annually while widening training and certification opportunities for experienced artisans.
Morendat Institute of Oil & Gas National Polytechnic is expanding pipeline welder training to address technical skills gaps. The Kenya Pipeline Company-owned institution targets training and certification for more than 30 pipeline welders annually.
The expansion also covers other technical professionals serving Kenya’s and the region’s oil and gas industries. KPC says the initiative aims to strengthen local participation in infrastructure projects and widen employment opportunities.
Pipeline welder training capacity
KPC Acting Managing Director and CEO Pius Mwendwa outlined the plans while launching the institute’s first roadshow in Nairobi. He said Morendat has the capacity to deliver more than 100 certified pipeline welders each year.
That capacity exceeds the institution’s stated annual training and certification target of more than 30 welders. Since 2024, Morendat has produced 101 certified pipeline welders, with most joining KPC and the remainder working abroad.
The institute also reported graduating 10 certified pipeline welders this year, compared with fewer than 10 a decade ago.
Meanwhile, Mwendwa linked the need for specialised skills to investments in petroleum production, refining and pipeline infrastructure. He cited the Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery in Lamu and the Gulf Energy-led South Lokichar oil project in Turkana.
He said KPC wants Kenyan professionals to participate in those investments while reducing dependence on imported expertise. The company also aims to curb the loss of technical talent and create sustainable jobs for young people.
Certification routes for trainees and artisans
Morendat Director Dr Nancy Kosgei said the institution is strengthening its diploma, certificate and specialised short-course programmes. Its training portfolio also includes internationally recognised technical certification pathways tailored to energy and industrial employers.
Advanced welding courses align with international standards, including ISO 9606-1. In addition, the institution develops programmes through partnerships with recognised international welding and technical training organisations.
Kosgei said practical, industry-focused training should improve trainees’ employment prospects and help them compete for jobs. The roadshow therefore targets prospective students, experienced artisans and professionals seeking additional qualifications.
For workers without formal qualifications, Morendat is expanding access through its Recognition of Prior Learning programme. This route assesses skills that artisans and technicians have gained through practical work experience.
Successful applicants can obtain recognised certification, helping them pursue career advancement and opportunities in Kenya and abroad, Kosgei said.
Broader technical courses and regional reach
Beyond welding, Morendat is exploring partnerships with county governments, businesses and other institutions to expand specialised training. Proposed areas include firefighting, occupational health and safety, emergency response, electrical installation and liquefied petroleum gas handling.
The institution expects these partnerships to improve workplace safety and support compliance with occupational health requirements.
Morendat began in 2014 as a regional oil and gas training centre and gained national polytechnic status in September 2024. Over the past decade, it has trained more than 6,000 professionals across technical disciplines.
It now operates campuses in Nairobi, Naivasha and Eldoret, with facilities covering welding, pipeline operations and other technical fields. The Nairobi roadshow also gives students, parents and employers access to information on admissions, certification and career pathways.
