20/10/2026
An inspiring story 👏👏👏
Mashujaa Day: Celebrating a hero of institutional transformation.
Why TBNP Chief Principal, CHRP Sammy K. Cheruiyot, deserves a standing ovation.👏👏
Mashujaa Day is a time to celebrate heroes who have impacted lives, inspired change, and achieved remarkable things through their leadership.
Today, we celebrate one such leader: CHRP Sammy K. Cheruiyot, Chief Principal of Bureti National Polytechnic (TBNP).
Four years ago, the institution was barely mentioned in serious discussions about leading technical training institutions in Kenya. In fact, it was almost being mistaken for an ordinary village The Bureti National Polytechnic
Then came 2022. As the saying goes, enough was enough! The then Bureti Technical Training Institute received a fresh breath of life following the posting of a new Principal, CHRP Sammy K. Cheruiyot.
He arrived at an institution facing glaring challenges. Instead of throwing his hands in the air, crying for intervention, or running away from the problems, he rolled up his sleeves and took up the challenge of turning the institution around.
Ladies and gentlemen, allow us to take you through a remarkable journey of transformation,from an institution struggling for national recognition to a national polytechnic making its mark on Kenya’s TVET landscape.
By the end of this story, you might just agree with us that Sammy K. was the kind of administrator TBNP had been waiting for.
1. From muddy walkways to a more accessible institution.
Back then, walking around the institution during the rainy season was almost an extreme sport! 😂 The walkways were in such a poor state that livestock footpaths would probably have competed favourably. It was a thriving season for gumboot sellers.
But Sammy K. came, saw the challenge, and acted. The walkways were improved through murraming, making movement easier and more convenient.
Gumboots? No longer the unofficial staff uniform! Official shoes could finally reclaim their rightful place. 😂👏
2. The first-ever graduation: A dream becomes reality.
Since its establishment in 2015, the institution had never held a graduation ceremony. Yet, barely a year after Sammy K. took office, the first-ever graduation was held in 2023.
A milestone that had remained elusive became a reality.
That was more than a ceremony; it was a moment of pride, recognition, and achievement for graduates, parents, trainers, and the entire institution.
We call it the Sammy K effect!
3. From 4,000 to over 8,000 trainees!
An institution grows when people believe in its promise.
TBNP’s trainee population, which stood at around 4,000, has grown to over 8,000 by 2026.
That is a remarkable expansion in the institution’s reach and an opportunity for more young people to acquire practical skills, pursue their dreams, and prepare for the world of work.
Sammy K’s strategies at work. No disturbance, please! 😊
4. The tractor dream: Agricultural training gets a boost!
Agriculture is serious business, and serious agricultural training requires the right equipment.
The acquisition of a Massey Ferguson 275 tractor for agricultural training is another milestone in strengthening practical learning at TBNP.
Because at Bureti National Polytechnic, we do not just talk about farming; we are committed to equipping trainees with the skills to make agriculture productive and sustainable.
That is the spirit of skills development!
5. From seeking national recognition to ranking fourth nationally!
Here comes one of the biggest highlights of this transformation story!
TBNP has been ranked fourth nationally in its core mandate under performance contracting and seventh among the best national polytechnics in Kenya.
Read those positions again: FOURTH NATIONALLY and SEVENTH AMONG NATIONAL POLYTECHNICS.
For an institution that once struggled to feature in serious national TVET conversations, these achievements represent a significant milestone.
The journey is a reminder that institutions can rise beyond their circumstances when challenges are met with determination, strategic leadership, and a commitment to results.
Sammy K, the numbers are speaking👏👏
6. From transport challenges to a 72-seater bus.
Academic trips, educational visits, and other institutional activities are important parts of training. But for a long time, transport was a major challenge at TBNP, limiting movement for essential academic engagements.
Today, a 72-seater bus stands ready to serve the institution and support its activities.
Another milestone towards making learning more practical, accessible, and connected to the world beyond the classroom.
Courtesy of visionary institutional leadership!
7. An institution taking greater responsibility for qualifications.
TBNP has attained Qualifications Awarding Institution status, marking an important step in its institutional development and role in technical and vocational education.
This development strengthens the institution’s position in the qualifications landscape and reflects its continuing journey towards greater capacity and responsibility.
We are growing, and the story is far from over!
8. Building partnerships beyond our gates.
Today, TBNP continues to build partnerships with international organisations and attract institutions seeking to benchmark against its practices.
Such engagements create opportunities for learning, collaboration, knowledge exchange, and continuous institutional improvement.
From looking for a place on the national map to welcoming others through benchmarking engagements, the journey is worth celebrating.
9.ISO Certification, just awaiting formal certification handover. What an achievement for TBNP, just because of efforts of someone who want the best for an institution👏👏
10. And now, the second graduation is just around the corner. 🎓
The excitement is building as TBNP prepares for its second graduation ceremony, scheduled for November 2026.
The first graduation opened a new chapter. The second is another opportunity to celebrate achievement, recognise hard work, and honour the power of technical skills in transforming lives.
TBNP is moving forward, and the story continues.
Dear CHRP Sammy K. Cheruiyot, this Mashujaa Day, we celebrate you.
Principal, these are just some of the milestones in TBNP’s transformation journey. Behind every improved facility, every additional trainee, every new piece of training equipment, and every institutional milestone are people whose dedication makes progress possible.
We recognise your leadership and contribution to steering Bureti National Polytechnic towards greater achievements.
We celebrate the entire management, staff, trainees, and stakeholders whose collective efforts continue to move the institution forward.
As you lead TBNP into its next chapter, know that we appreciate the journey so far and look forward to even greater achievements.
As we celebrate you this Mashujaa Day, one thing remains clear:
A leader’s impact is not measured by the years he serves, but by the transformation he leaves behind.
Principal Sammy K. Cheruiyot, your journey at Bureti National Polytechnic is a reminder that leadership is not merely about occupying an office; it is about making a difference, inspiring progress, and building an institution whose achievements speak long after the work is done.
As TBNP continues to rise to greater heights, may the journey ahead bring even greater milestones, stronger partnerships, and more opportunities for generations of trainees.
Sammy K., your leadership is part of TBNP’s story of transformation. You are our Shujaa. 👏
Happy Mashujaa Day, Chief Principal.
Bureti National Polytechnic , Skills for Growth!
