The Kenya Utalii College is set to complete a Sh1 billion state-of-the-art training kitchen at its main campus in Nairobi as part of sweeping reforms aimed at restoring its position as a premier centre for hospitality and tourism training.
Board Chairman David Wamatsi said the Individual Training Kitchen (ITK), which is expected to be ready within two weeks, represents one of the boldest investments in the institution’s history and will equip students with modern culinary skills in demand by both local and international markets.
The kitchen, equipped with modern facilities, he said, will provide hands-on training for students, equipping them with the skills to compete effectively with their counterparts from other institutions worldwide.
He noted that many Utalii graduates were already finding opportunities on cruise ships and at top hotels abroad, describing this as a sign that the institution is regaining its footing.
Speaking during the Kisumu Tourism Excellence Awards ceremony at Dunga in Kisumu Central Sub-County, Wamatsi acknowledged that the college had previously struggled with challenges that eroded its reputation, but stated that a turnaround was now firmly underway.
He cited the introduction of a new curriculum, extensive renovations of infrastructure, and the planned construction of new hostels as part of a broad package of reforms.
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The college, he added, was also recruiting specialised teaching staff, including communication and speech experts, to raise the quality of instruction and ensure that graduates leave with both technical and soft skills required in the hospitality industry.
At the same time, he added, the institution was expanding beyond Nairobi in an effort to reach more students and build capacity in the regions.
In Kisumu, he stated, the college is establishing a campus at the Kanyakwar Cultural Centre in collaboration with the county government.
‘The campus will focus on front office operations, housekeeping, food and beverage service and other critical areas, with a ten-year programme designed to strengthen the quality of hospitality personnel in western Kenya,” he said.
The chairman appealed to parents and guardians to encourage their children to enrol at Utalii, saying the institution’s renewed focus on quality guarantees graduates meaningful career opportunities both locally and abroad.
He insisted that the reforms would return the college to its glory days, positioning it once again as the leading training hub for Africa’s hospitality industry.
Kenya Utalii College, established in 1975, has trained thousands of professionals who serve across the global hospitality sector.
The ongoing reforms, capped by the Sh1 billion kitchen investment, are intended to reaffirm its place at the heart of the country’s tourism and hospitality growth.
By Fredrick Odiero
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