After more than 12 years of delays and stalled promises, the Ronald Ngala Utalii College in Vipingo, Kilifi County, is finally set to open its doors to students.
The institution will admit its first cohort of 1,000 students on September 1, marking the end of a decade-long wait for a project that has been billed as a game changer for Kenya’s tourism and hospitality training.
Tourism Principal Secretary Julius Bitok announced that pioneer students will report within the next 40 days.
He spoke after an inspection tour of the facility alongside Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro and Kenya Utali College Principal and CEO Mark Ogendi.
Bitok said construction of the college is 90 per cent done, with remaining works expected to be finalised before the September intake.
“After waiting for over 12 years, we are finally ready. Everything is in place for this institution to begin operations. It is one of the best-designed hospitality training colleges in Africa and will play a key role in helping Kenya achieve its target of attracting five million tourists by 2030,” he said.
The college is expected to transform tourism and hospitality training by producing skilled professionals for Kenya’s growing tourism industry and the international job market.
Bitok said the institution will offer specialised courses in hospitality, tourism, culinary arts and cruise ship operations, creating employment opportunities for young people seeking careers in the global hospitality sector.
He said the government is engaging private investors to develop a modern beachfront hotel through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) on land adjacent to the college, providing students with practical training facilities.
“We have prime beachfront land here and discussions with investors are ongoing. We expect construction of the resort to begin within the next one or two years,” he said.
The PS urged political leaders to avoid making statements that could hurt Kenya’s tourism industry, assuring international visitors that the country remains safe and continues to invest heavily in world-class tourism infrastructure and training.
Mung’aro described the opening of the institution as the fulfilment of a dream that residents have waited over a decade to witness.
“For the last 12 years, we have waited to see this college operational. We are delighted that September will finally mark the beginning of learning here,” he said.
He said the institution will strengthen Kenya’s tourism workforce while opening opportunities for youth through cruise ship and maritime training.
Mung’aro urged Kenya Utalii College to introduce more short professional courses to enable more young people to access skills that are in high demand in the hospitality and cruise industries.
He cautioned leaders against remarks that could undermine the tourism sector, describing it as the backbone of the Coast economy.
Hotels in Malindi and Watamu are currently operating at full capacity while occupancy in Kilifi stands at about 50 per cent. Mung’aro said tourism is a sensitive industry that takes time to recover once affected.
Ogendi said the institution is fully prepared to receive its first students and position itself as a regional centre of excellence in hospitality education.
He said programmes to be offered include hospitality management, tourism management, culinary arts, travel and tourism management, and seafarer training.
“We are ready to admit even international students because this is one of the best hospitality training facilities in the region. Staff are already on site to assist those reporting for registration,” he said.
Ogendi said applications are open through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) and directly through Kenya Utalii College.
The college has partnered with Bandari Maritime Academy and the French Institute to deliver internationally competitive training and has also signed agreements with cruise ship agencies to enhance graduates’ employment opportunities.
