The government has unveiled plans to expand the Kenya Institute of Surveying and Mapping (KISM) to accommodate more students in geoscience courses vital for Kenya’s development.
The announcement was made during the graduation ceremony of 521 students on Friday, highlighting the institute’s role in producing professionals equipped to support national growth.
Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome said the expansion will allow KISM to train more learners in specialised fields that are essential to the country’s economic transformation.
“KISM is a leader in geoscience and a point of reference in East and Central Africa. Students here are trained using new technologies such as remote sensing,” she said. Some of the new graduates will join government agencies, while others will explore opportunities in the private sector or across the region.
The institution, recognised as a regional centre of excellence, offers diploma and craft certificate courses in Land Surveying, Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing, Cartography, and Print Technology.
During the ceremony, CS Wahome, accompanied by Lands and Physical Planning Principal Secretary Nixon Korir, stressed that strengthening KISM’s capacity is a key government priority.
To cater to the growing number of trainees, the government plans to build additional hostels and is seeking increased funding through the Ministry of Education. PS Korir assured that efforts are underway to enhance KISM’s infrastructure and academic resources, including recruiting more staff and transferring experts from other units to meet rising demand.
He noted that enrolment at KISM has doubled in recent years, reflecting the sector’s expanding opportunities. “You are now equipped with the skills to take up jobs in government, the private sector, and to be self-reliant,” PS Korir told the graduands.
KISM Director Jesse Waithaka highlighted that the institute’s curriculum is designed to align with national development priorities. “The surveying and mapping industry is dynamic and constantly shaped by advances in technology. That is why we continuously adopt the latest tools and techniques in our training,” he said.
The graduation drew representatives from Kenya’s leading higher learning institutions and senior officials from Ardhi House, marking a milestone in KISM’s mission to nurture skilled geoscience professionals.
