MK Alpha Painters Launches Masterclass 2026 to Train 1,000 Painters Nationwide
By Shadrack Mutai, | NAIROBI,
MK Alpha Painters, a leading paint supplier based along the Eastern Bypass in Kamakis, has officially launched the MK Alpha Painters Masterclass 2026 — a structured, nationwide training programme targeting 1,000 painters across Kenya in a bold move to professionalise one of the construction sector’s most underleveraged trades.
The initiative begins this weekend in Nairobi with its first cohort of 100 painters and will run quarterly through 2026 as part of a sustained training calendar.
Speaking during the launch, MK Alpha Painters Director Catherine Wanjiku Gatiri said the painting industry has long operated without structured training frameworks, despite playing a central role in the construction value chain.
“Painters are on construction sites every day, yet most have never received formal instruction on surface preparation, colour consistency, or how to run a sustainable business. The MK Alpha Painters Masterclass is here to change that,” she said.
Bridging a Growing Skills Gap
The Masterclass 2026 is a practical, site-based training programme developed in response to a widening skills gap in Kenya’s painting trade — a challenge amplified by rapid construction growth in Nairobi and surrounding counties.
The curriculum focuses on six core areas designed to elevate painters from skilled labourers to industry professionals:
Product Knowledge – Understanding paint types, composition, and appropriate application across surfaces and environments.
Surface Preparation – Industry-standard techniques for priming and preparing surfaces before painting.
Finishing Techniques – Advanced methods to achieve clean, professional finishes.
Colour Consistency – Ensuring uniform results and accurate colour application across spaces.
Worksite Professionalism – Efficiency, safety, and client management.
Business Sustainability – Pricing, branding, and building long-term client relationships.
Organisers note that finishing quality and colour consistency are often the distinguishing factors between average and highly sought-after painters — directly influencing repeat business and referrals.
Aligning with Kenya’s Housing Boom
Kenya’s affordable housing programme and private real estate expansion have significantly increased demand for skilled finishing professionals. However, painting remains largely informal, with most practitioners learning through inconsistent apprenticeship systems.
The MK Alpha Painters Masterclass seeks to formalise the trade by creating a credentialed, job-ready talent pool that contractors, developers, interior designers, and homeowners can confidently engage.
With its 1,000-painter target, the programme signals a shift toward skills-based empowerment within the construction ecosystem — positioning painting not merely as labour, but as a respected profession requiring technical knowledge, precision, and entrepreneurial acumen.
