The Journey of Lewis Kimathi, Gypsum Installation Expert and Founder of Gykim Interiors is a reflection that investments in skills-based training can unlock entrepreneurship employment opportunities for the youth
A graduate of Meru National Polytechnic, Lewis specialised in Gypsum Installation, a skill that is increasingly sought after in Kenya’s construction and interior design sector.
After completing his studies in 2023 at Meru National Polytechnic College, Lewis founded Gykim Interiors, a growing business serving clients across Meru County, Thika, and Nairobi counties. This transition from student to employer was made possible thanks to the competence he acquired during his training at the Polytechnic.
Gykim Interiors has since delivered high-quality gypsum installations in homes, offices and commercial premises. His work has gained recognition for its finishing quality, precision and professionalism.
Some of the Gypsum Installation works that Lewis Kimathi has undertaken.
“My first clients in Meru opened the door for bigger work,” he explains. “Now we are doing projects in Thika and Nairobi. Each job teaches me something new, and I am able to employ other young people along the way.”
Lewis is one of the many students who have benefitted from investments by the World Bank and the government of Kenya at Meru Polytechnic College through the East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP).
The polytechnic college has upgraded training equipment, and improved learning environment. As a result, enrolment in key priority programmes, particularly building and construction, has tripled from a baseline of 1,000 students to 3,216 students. The institution has also attracted a growing number of learners from across East Africa, with regional student enrolment rising from zero to 152 students.
Strong Graduate Employment Outcomes
About 79 percent of the graduates can secure employment within six months of graduation, up from 47 percent at project start. Female students have broken barriers in a male dominated field of building and construction, with 88 percent receiving employment within six months after graduation.
Lewis Kimathi at one of the construction sites.
The institution now offers 36 accredited, demand-driven programmes, up from just five before the project. The programmes were designed in close collaboration with industry partners, ensuring that training focuses on real labour-market needs, strengthening the polytechnic’s capacity to equip learners with practical skills to changing labour needs.
Lewis’s work has contributed to the growing construction sector in Kenya and created employment opportunities for fellow youth. His entrepreneurial spirit has demonstrated the multiplier effect of high-quality TVET, where one trained graduate can create additional jobs and catalyse local economic activity.
“When I train a young person on my team and they start earning from their skills, I feel I’m giving back what I received,” he says.
With skills gained through practice, mentorship, and exposure to industry-grade equipment, he was able to establish a business of his own. Gykim Interiors continues to grow, serving diverse clients and showcasing the quality of skills produced by Meru National Polytechnic.
By Davids Maingi, Communication Officer for EASTRIP at Meru National Polytechnic College
