Kenya Utalii College rolls out syllabus for non-graduates

By Philip Mwakio

The Kenya Utalii College has devised new teaching curriculum to cater for non-graduate hotel staff.

 The move is aimed at instilling professionalism in hotel service delivery.

In an interview with the Job Centre in Mombasa, College Principal Dr Kenneth Obongi said a recent study found that most hotels at the Coast have huge numbers of untrained staff.

 The study was conducted in May. “Hoteliers at the South Coast have  gone over-drive to work with local communities  by hiring untrained  personnel from within their locations according to our report,” the Utalii boss said.

 Dr Obongi said the study found that the untrained personnel have not done much to boost visitor numbers  at hotels. This has led to low productivity in terms of services offered.

He added that  even classified and star rated hotels lack professionally trained staff including barmen.

 Dr Ombongi said that Utalii has  come up with specific modules to train the unskilled staff. Trainees will go  through a two-week rudimentary course in fields like food and beverage and general service to equip them with the necessary skills required.

“We have worked closely with the hotel industry and we have new refresher courses.  Starting April, lower cadre staff  like waiters, cooks have been trained.”