Utalii College inks deal to train students from 7 African countries

Kenya Utalii College Council Chairman David Wamatsi (left) at this year's Mombasa International Agricultural Show. [Robert Menza, Standard]

Premier hospitality training institution Kenya Utalii College (KUC) plans to train more students from the African continent, council chairman David Wamatsi has said.

Speaking in Mombasa, Mr Wamatsi, who was flanked by the college's acting Principal and Chief Executive Anthony Mbehelo, said they have received requests to offer hospitality training from seven countries.

"We have signed seven Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with seven African countries that we plan to execute," he said without naming the countries.

In October 2018, former President Uhuru Kenyatta awarded a full presidential scholarship to 50 students from Zambia to train in various courses at KUC.

Saturday, Wamatsi said the college would be modernised and expanded to admit more students. In the just concluded Mombasa International Agricultural Show, KUC bagged the top prize of best stand in hospitality and catering services for 2023.

"As a council, we anchor our commitment on the pillar that supports sustainability of the college operations as we play our active role in tourism development and helpfully in its recovery post-Covid-19 era," he said, adding that the institution would also seek to diversify its revenue sources.

Mr Wamatsi said the college is aligning itself to tap opportunities in the Blue Economy. KUC chairman, who was also accompanied by the Utalii Hotel General Manager Roseline Gicheru, said the institution would offer quality training to Kenyans who land jobs onboard international cruise liners.

"To this end, we are working with Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) to identify training gaps. We also have close working relationships with some of the major international cruise liners like the MSC Cruises and the Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises respectively," he said.

He said KUC will fully automate its course application process this month. Mbehelo said KUC plans to roll out a new curriculum.