More than 400 hospitality workers from the Coast region have received nationally recognised skills certification under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Upskilling Programme as Kenya intensifies efforts to attract five million international tourists annually by 2027.
The initiative, implemented by the Tourism Fund in partnership with the State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), seeks to improve service standards by recognising experienced hospitality workers who have acquired skills through the workplace but lack formal qualifications.
The participants graduated after a two-week intensive training programme at the Kenya Coast National Polytechnic (KCNP) in Mombasa.
The graduating cohort comprised 35 hotel managers, accountants and hotel owners, 413 hospitality workers and 28 young content creators. It was the 24th cohort to complete the programme since its launch, following similar training sessions in Turkana, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nairobi, Nyeri and other regions.
The fully funded programme catered for accommodation, transport and meals for participants drawn from hospitality establishments across the Coast region.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony, Director of TVET at the Ministry of Education, Dr. Joseph Kanyi, said the government approved the Recognition of Prior Learning policy in 2024 to formally recognise workers who possess practical skills acquired through experience but lack academic credentials.
“As you may have heard, the government developed and approved the policy on recognition of prior learning in the year 2024,” said Dr. Kanyi.
He said certificates awarded through the programme carry the same value as those obtained through formal education, enabling beneficiaries to pursue higher education, establish businesses and compete for better employment opportunities both locally and internationally.
Dr. Kanyi noted that over the last two years, the State Department for TVET has trained more than 6,000 people and assessed over 10,000 others through the RPL programme across 33 national polytechnics.
Tourism Fund Director Sylas Tochim said the Fund, established through an Act of Parliament, is mandated to promote tourism development using revenue generated through the two per cent tourism levy charged on hospitality establishments.
He said part of the revenue is invested in capacity-building programmes aimed at strengthening the country’s tourism workforce and improving service delivery.
KCNP Council Chairperson Dr. Patricia Mbogo described the RPL programme as one of the government’s most transformative initiatives, saying it has opened opportunities for thousands of skilled workers who previously lacked formal certification despite years of industry experience.
She said the initiative provides long-overdue recognition for workplace-acquired competencies, enabling beneficiaries to advance their careers and contribute more effectively to the tourism sector.
Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) Executive Director Sam Ikwaye commended the Tourism Fund for supporting professional development in the hospitality industry.
He said the programme complements the Kenya Tourism Board’s strategy of attracting five million international visitors annually by ensuring the country has a skilled and certified workforce capable of delivering quality services.
Ikwaye appealed to the government to fast-track completion of the Utalii College campus in Kilifi to expand access to hospitality training in the Coast region.
He also called for the liberalisation of Kenya’s airspace to increase direct international flights to the Coast, saying improved air connectivity would significantly boost tourist arrivals and enhance the region’s competitiveness as a global tourism destination.
The KAHC official further urged national and county leaders to safeguard peace and political stability ahead of the next election cycle, noting that security and stability remain critical to sustaining growth in the tourism industry.
Among the graduates, Mwikali Lelesi, a sales employee at Baobab Beach Resort and Spa in Diani, said the programme had broadened her professional knowledge and improved her career prospects.
“It is really something very important that most employers should involve their employees in because in such a short period of time you get to experience a lot and see how the other world is,” she said.
She added that the certification would enable her to grow professionally and work in different departments within the hospitality industry.
Another beneficiary, Sumeya Osman, a tourism student at Kenya Coast National Polytechnic, said financial support from the Tourism Training Revolving Fund enabled her to complete her studies after financial challenges threatened to derail her education.
“They paid for my school fees, and I was able to do my exams. I’ll be graduating soon, and I’ll be an upcoming tour guide,” she said.
The graduates expressed optimism that the nationally recognised certification would enhance their employability and support the continued growth and competitiveness of Kenya’s tourism sector.
By Joan Kinuthia
