Nairobi, May 6 -- After sitting her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination in 2016, Caroline Adhiambo was admitted to a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institution in Mombasa, rejecting a teaching offer from a college in Nyeri.

"My family was surprised when I opted to join Kenya Coast National Polytechnic (KCNP) for a three-year diploma course in Building Technology," the 23-year-old says.

Adhiambo, who scored 308 marks in her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and a C in KCSE at St Cecilia Nangina Girls High School in Busia County, was one of two female students in the building technology class at the national Polytechnic.

"I have always had a passion for building, drawing, and de...