Ronald Ngala Utalii College to open Sep 1 with first cohort of 1,000 students

Jukwaa

📻 Breaking It Down

Speaking during an inspection tour of the campus on Thursday, Bitok said preparations for the maiden intake were almost complete, with the government putting the final logistical arrangements in place ahead of the launch.

“I can confirm that we are 95 percent ready to welcome the first cohort of 1,000 students on September 1. We have put all the necessary arrangements in place to make this a reality,” Bitok said.

The opening marks a major milestone for Kenya’s tourism and maritime training sectors, bringing to fruition a project that has been in the pipeline for more than three decades.

📌 What You Need to Know

The institution was first approved under President Daniel arap Moi’s administration through Cabinet Minute 30/1996 on February 1, 1996, as a coastal campus of Kenya Utalii College. However, the project was shelved because of budgetary constraints.

It was revived under President Mwai Kibaki’s administration on September 13, 2007, as a flagship Kenya Vision 2030 project. Although implementation began in March 2010, the college faced more than a decade of delays before reaching operational readiness.

Bitok described the institution as a modern counterpart to Nairobi Utalii College, saying it will gradually expand to accommodate up to 4,000 students.

The college will offer diploma programmes, short courses and management refresher programmes in hospitality, hotel management, catering and seafaring, targeting skills needed in Kenya’s tourism and blue economy sectors.

The PS said the government is also considering a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to fast-track the completion and operation of a tourist-class training hotel within the campus, where students will gain practical industry experience.

The project is expected to create at least 1,000 direct and indirect jobs while supporting the government’s target of attracting five million tourists annually by 2028.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya

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