College's link with Swiss firm boosts the training of Kenyan students

From left: Boma International Hospitality College Principal Samuel Irungu, Board Chair Mike Macharia and Founding Director Joash Olum during 10th Anniversary celebrations. [Boniface Okendo]

The strategic partnership between Boma International Hospitality College (BIHC) and the Business and Hotel Management School in Lucerne, Switzerland, has boosted the training of Kenyan students in hospitality.

The collaboration has enabled Kenyan students to earn Swiss-accredited dual qualifications and access internship and job opportunities in 47 countries across five continents.

Through partnerships with African Unlimited, the Swiss Secretariat for Migration, KCB Foundation and Switch Media, the college has supported over 127 learners from across Africa, empowered 643 youth, and trained 276 MSMES - particularly women and persons with disabilities.

Scholarship programmes and flexible payment options have made quality hospitality education accessible to students from all backgrounds.

BIHC, whose revenue has also grown from Sh17.8 million when it started in 2025 to surpass the Sh3 billion mark by 2024, is recognised by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority as a centre of excellence in hospitality and culinary arts.

BIHC Board chair and chief executive of the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers, Mike Macharia, said over the past 10 years, the college has trained over 6,000 graduates and upskilled more than 2,400 industry professionals, cementing its position as a catalyst for excellence in Africa's hospitality sector.

He was speaking as the hospitality and culinary arts institution celebrated its 10th anniversary. "At BIHC, we don't just train students-we inspire careers, uplift communities, and elevate Africa's presence on the global hospitality stage. Our first decade has laid a strong foundation, and we are just getting started," said Macharia.

He said BIHC's dual vocational apprenticeship model allows students to earn while they learn. Its upcoming Recognition of Prior Learning framework will certify experienced professionals who lack formal academic credentials.

"Through the Pan African Tourism and Hospitality Research Institute, BIHC is driving research, innovation, and policy dialogue across the continent," said The Boma Group of Hotels Board Chair Joash Olum.

"The college has also established progression pathways with institutions like Taylor's University, Strathmore, USIU-Africa, University of Johannesburg, and the University of Lancashire."

The college is also embracing sustainability with initiatives like Farm-to-Fork and zero-waste cooking.