- Ronald Ngala Utalii College has admitted the pioneer cohort of 200 students in tourism and hospitality training.
- Tourism CS Rebecca Miano has highlighted the Coast’s central role in Kenya’s tourism industry, noting that young people make up about 70 per cent of sector employment.
- PS Julius Bitok has revealed that the Government is developing partnerships, including with a shipping company, to create job pathways for graduates pursuing cruise-industry careers.
Kenya Utalii College has officially opened its Ronald Ngala Campus in Vipingo, Kilifi County, marking a major milestone in the expansion of tourism and hospitality training along the Coast.
The campus, whose development has taken several years, has welcomed its pioneer cohort of 200 students and is expected to train more than 1,000 learners annually in specialised areas such as culinary arts, hospitality management, maritime tourism and coastal eco-tourism.
The institution is expected to provide young people in the Coast region and beyond with skills needed to secure employment in Kenya’s growing tourism and hospitality industry, while also preparing graduates for emerging opportunities in the international cruise industry.
The official opening on September 1 was attended by Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, Tourism Principal Secretary Julius Bitok, Kenya Utalii College Principal and Chief Executive Officer Mark Ogendi, and other leaders from the Coast region.
Speaking during the official opening, Miano said the Coast was an important location for the new campus because of its central role in Kenya’s tourism industry. She noted that about half of international visitors to Kenya travel to the Coast, creating strong demand for skilled workers in the tourism and hospitality sectors. Miano also said young people account for about 70 per cent of employment in the tourism industry, investing in specialised training important in preparing them to benefit from employment opportunities created by the sector.
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Bitok said the college would also focus on preparing students for jobs in the cruise industry, alongside those seeking careers in Kenya’s hospitality sector. He said the Government was developing partnerships aimed at creating clearer pathways from training to employment, particularly for students interested in cruise-related careers.
According to Bitok, graduates who complete their training and examinations will have opportunities to join the job market through arrangements being developed with a shipping company. The new campus is therefore expected to strengthen the connection between tourism education and industry needs while expanding access to specialised training at the Coast.
Welcoming the pioneer students, the institution described them as the beginning of a new chapter in Kenya’s hospitality and tourism story.
“To our pioneer students, welcome to Ronald Ngala. You are not just the first cohort; you are the beginning of a new chapter in Kenya’s hospitality and tourism story,” the institution said.
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The opening of the campus comes as Kenya seeks to strengthen its tourism workforce and equip young people with practical skills that can support both domestic and international employment opportunities.
By Bernard Magada
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