NAIROBI, Kenya — Students aspiring to pursue careers in hospitality and tourism will, for the first time, be able to apply to Kenya Utalii College through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), following a new collaboration between the two institutions.
The move is expected to significantly widen access to Kenya Utalii College’s specialised programmes and boost enrolment at the institution, which has for decades operated outside the centralised placement system.
Speaking after a meeting with Kenya Utalii College management on Wednesday, January 20, KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer Agnes Wahome said the institution’s courses will be uploaded onto the KUCCPS portal ahead of the 2026 application cycle for universities and TVET institutions.
“This partnership will ensure that Kenya Utalii College programmes are accessible to students from all parts of the country through a fair, merit-based and transparent placement process,” Wahome said.
She noted that the integration into KUCCPS will not only expand student access but also strengthen alignment between training and labour market needs, particularly in the hospitality and tourism sector, which remains a key pillar of Kenya’s economy.
“The KUCCPS placement system ensures fairness and merit in access to higher education and training opportunities while enabling institutions to attract students from all parts of Kenya. There is equity in the process, ensuring that institutions achieve the face of Kenya,” Wahome added.
Kenya Utalii College becomes the latest specialised institution to join the KUCCPS placement framework.
Others that have recently transitioned into the system include the Kenya School of Law (KSL) and the Morendat Institute of Oil and Gas, signalling a broader policy shift toward centralised placement for professional and niche training institutions.
According to Kenya Utalii College Principal Mark Ogendi, the partnership is a major boost to the institution’s long-term growth strategy, particularly as it seeks to expand its regional footprint.
“This collaboration will be a game-changer for hospitality training, especially as we scale up our campuses in Kisumu, Kilifi and Narok counties,” Ogendi said.
Kenya Utalii College is an affiliate member of UN Tourism and is recognised as a Centre of Excellence in hospitality and tourism training.
The institution has trained professionals for both the Kenyan and global markets for over 50 years, supplying skilled labour to hotels, airlines, cruise lines and tourism enterprises across Africa and beyond.
Beyond placement, the KUCCPS–Utalii partnership will also focus on labour market research, career pathway mapping, and grassroots mobilisation to ensure students are adequately informed about opportunities in hospitality and tourism.
The development comes against the backdrop of the recent release of the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced the results on Friday, January 9, revealing that 993,000 candidates sat the national examination — 492,019 boys and 501,214 girls.
According to the Ministry of Education, 270,715 candidates scored a mean grade of C+ and above, qualifying for direct university admission.
A further 507,131 candidates attained grade C- and above, while 634,082 scored D+ and above, making them eligible for various TVET and diploma programmes.
With Kenya Utalii College now accessible through KUCCPS, education sector analysts say the move could absorb more learners into market-driven skills training, ease pressure on traditional universities, and strengthen Kenya’s hospitality workforce in line with tourism recovery and growth.
