Nandi Governor Stephen Sang has challenged newly certified hospitality workers to leverage their qualifications to tap into local and international job markets as the county moves to grow its tourism sector.
Sang said formal certification of skills acquired through years of hands-on experience would bridge a long-standing gap where competent workers were locked out of opportunities for lack of academic papers.
This was contained in a speech read on his behalf by County Secretary Dr. Francis Sang during a graduation ceremony at Kaiboi National Polytechnic in Mosop sub-County, where pioneer trainees under the Tourism Fund-sponsored Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Upskilling Programme were awarded certificates.
“Kenya has become very competitive and the world is becoming a small place. The skills you have acquired today will distinguish you from the rest,” he said.
The programme, he noted, validates competencies of workers who have long contributed to Kenya’s hospitality industry through practical experience.
Speaking during the same occasion, Mosop Member of Parliament (MP) Abraham Kirwa urged the graduates to look beyond the local market and take advantage of global demand for hospitality skills.
“Do not only look for jobs in Kenya. Search all over the world, in Qatar, the United States, Germany and other parts of the world,” he said.
He added that the certification would enhance mobility in a competitive labour market and challenged the trainees to pursue further training to advance their careers.
Kirwa lauded Kaiboi National Polytechnic as a key institution in technical and vocational training in the region, recalling his push to have it elevated to a national polytechnic to expand opportunities for youth.
Nandi Woman Representative Cynthia Muge said the RPL programme addresses a major barrier facing workers whose practical abilities have not been formally recognised.
“Many people in the hospitality sector have mastered their trade through years of experience but were disadvantaged when employers demanded certificates,” she said.
Muge noted that formal recognition would also make it easier for public institutions to engage qualified local service providers.
“The question I kept asking myself is where did these people get to learn the skills that they do so well, yet they were not recognised or did not have certification?” she posed.
She said the initiative demonstrates the value of partnerships between government, training institutions and industry in closing skills gaps.
The pioneer cohort was certified in barista skills, events management, food and beverage production and front office operations.
Muge urged the county to build on the programme by identifying other skills that require recognition through Kaiboi and other TVET institutions, saying skilled workers are central to how visitors experience the county.
She challenged local hospitality establishments to improve services and expand capacity to host major conferences and events, calling for stronger partnerships among investors, trainers and government to position Nandi as a conference and tourism destination.
By Kosuri Valarie
