- KUCCPS has opened applications for the September 2026 intake at Ronald Ngala Utalii College in Kilifi County, with the window closing on August 23, 2026.
- PS Bitok has confirmed that construction at the college has reached about 95 per cent completion, and the institution has prepared to receive roughly 1,000 first-year learners.
- KUCCPS and Kenya Utalii College have incorporated the new college’s programmes into the national placement system, following a partnership agreement reached in January.
Students seeking to pursue careers in tourism and hospitality can now apply for admission to Ronald Ngala Utalii College in Kilifi County for the September 2026 intake.
In a notice issued on Wednesday, August 12, the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) said applications would be accepted through its Students’ Portal up to August 23, 2026, and urged prospective students to take advantage of the available programmes.
“Ready to pursue a career in hospitality and tourism? Application for Ronald Ngala Utalii College programmes for the September 2026 intake is now open,” KUCCPS said..
The opening of the intake is expected to provide young people in the Coast region with an opportunity to access specialised training without travelling to Nairobi.
Ronald Ngala Utalii College is being developed as part of the expansion of Kenya Utalii College’s training network, with a focus on increasing the number of institutions offering professional training in tourism and hospitality.
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The Kilifi-based institution is expected to welcome its first batch of approximately 1,000 learners in September. Its programmes will cover tourism, hospitality and other related areas.
Tourism Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said last month that construction and preparations at the college had reached about 95 per cent, putting the institution on course to receive its first students.
Among the courses planned at the institution are programmes in catering, hotel keeping and seafaring, as well as management-related fields.
The college is expected to combine classroom teaching with practical training through its facilities, providing students with hands-on experience relevant to the hospitality industry.
The development comes after KUCCPS and Kenya Utalii College agreed in January to incorporate the college’s programmes into the national placement system.
Under the arrangement, students can seek admission to selected Kenya Utalii College courses through KUCCPS, a move intended to simplify access and broaden opportunities for applicants.
Earlier this year, KUCCPS listed 13 diploma and certificate programmes under the partnership. They included culinary arts, hospitality management, front office operations, food and beverage management, housekeeping and laundry management, travel and tourism management, and tour guiding and administration.
The latest announcement now brings Ronald Ngala Utalii College into the same placement framework.
The institution is being established at a time when the government is seeking to strengthen the skills available to Kenya’s tourism and hospitality industry.
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Tourism supports employment across several areas, including hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, tour operations and transport services.
The government has also been promoting specialised hospitality and cruise-ship training as part of efforts to equip young people with practical skills that can improve their employment prospects.
For the Coast region, the establishment of Ronald Ngala Utalii College is expected to expand local access to professional tourism and hospitality education and create another pathway for young people seeking careers in the industry.
By Jonathan Mwinzi
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