The Kenya Utalii College has partnered with Railways Training Institute to scale up training in tourism and hospitality.
Through the partnership, the premier hospitality training institution will roll out programmes at the RTI Marine Campus in Kisumu in January.
The programmes target to equip learners with skills to effectively compete for jobs in cruise ships as the country moves to regain its foothold in tourism.
Speaking during the signing of the MOU at the Marine School, Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen said the move comes after the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) certified the institution to offer Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).
The certification, he said, would help graduates in tourism and hospitality secure jobs on cruise ships and leisure boats locally and abroad.
The government, he said, has signed bilateral labour relations with a number of countries, adding that students who successfully undergo the training would be assisted to secure jobs abroad through the arrangement.
“I have been outside the country with the president where a number of bilateral labour relations have been signed. As the Cabinet Secretary in charge of transport I will move to see that some of the students who go through these programmes are assisted through this arrangement,” he said.
Tourism, he said, has a lot of potential, adding that the government was exploring ways of utilizing the ocean and inland water bodies to grow the sector.
Blue economy.
Lake Victoria, he said was on the top agenda of the government with plans to revive transport and tourism activities to create job opportunities for the youth.
Utalii College Board Chairman David Wamatsi said the institution which makes a comeback to the lake region after closing in 2018 shall be domiciled at the Marine School.
Students from the Lake Region counties, he added were set to benefit immensely from the training.
“Since its inception Utalii College has produced over 70,000 graduates who are working in different parts of the world. This world class training is what we are bringing here in Kisumu,” he said.
Kenya Railways Managing Director Managing Director (MD) Phillip Mainga lauded the partnership saying it would help to strengthen the hospitality programmes offered at RTI.
Kenya Railways, he added, has set aside funds to modernize workshops at the institution to ensure learners get hands-on training.
By Chris Mahandara
