KCB Foundation and CFAO Mobility Kenya have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on skills development and enterprise support aimed at Kenya’s automotive and emerging electric mobility (e-mobility) sector.

Under the agreement, the two organisations will support the training of 200 young people—100 drawn from KCB Foundation and 100 from CFAO Mobility Kenya—through technical and vocational programmes at the Toyota Kenya Academy starting in January 2027, according to a statement on the signing. The programme is intended to link technical training with entrepreneurship support, financial inclusion and market access to improve employment and enterprise outcomes.

The partnership will deliver technical and automotive training, including specialised e-mobility programmes, while also supporting youth- and women-owned enterprises operating in the mobility value chain through business incubation, mentorship and financial literacy, the statement said.

The initiative comes as Kenya’s mobility ecosystem expands across conventional automotive services, motorcycle-dependent logistics and transport, and early-stage electrification efforts. Skills gaps—particularly in diagnostics, maintenance, and new drivetrain technologies—have been cited by industry players as a constraint on the sector’s ability to scale, while access to capital and predictable demand remains a key challenge for small businesses and informal operators.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, KCB Foundation Managing Director Mendi Njonjo said the partnership is structured to respond to shifts in labour market demand. “The future of work is changing rapidly, and partnerships such as this enable us to equip young people with practical, industry-relevant skills that respond to market needs,” Njonjo said. “By combining technical training with entrepreneurship development, financial literacy, access to finance and market linkages, we are creating a pathway for young people and women to build sustainable businesses and secure meaningful employment within the mobility sector.”

Beyond training, the statement indicated that qualifying entrepreneurs will be considered for tailored asset financing solutions covering vehicles, motorcycles and equipment. Participants may also get opportunities to connect with Toyota and CFAO’s supply chain ecosystem, subject to procurement and compliance requirements.

CFAO Kenya Managing Director Akira Wada said the focus is on aligning training with industry requirements as the sector changes. “As the mobility sector continues to evolve, we have a responsibility to prepare young people with the technical competencies required for the future,” Wada said. “Through this partnership, we are investing in talent development, supporting innovation in e-mobility and creating stronger connections between training, industry and employment.”

For Kenya’s labour market, the agreement highlights a growing role for private-sector-led training partnerships that tie classroom instruction to specific industry pathways. If implemented as outlined, the combination of training, enterprise incubation and financing could help formalise segments of the mobility value chain—especially among youth and women-led businesses—while building a workforce prepared for both conventional automotive work and new e-mobility technologies.

The first cohort is scheduled to begin training at the Toyota Kenya Academy in January 2027. The partners did not disclose the programme budget or the selection criteria for trainees and financing, but said the support would be delivered through technical training, entrepreneurship development and linkages to markets and supply chains.