Balala: KWS institute to be upgraded to research centre

Tourism Cs Najib Balala admires some artifacts of wild animals during the graduation ceremony for students at Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute (KWSTI) in Naivasha. [Standard]

The Kenya Wildlife Service Institute will be upgraded to an international science research centre to accommodate students from other African countries.

The move will see the institute that sits on 1,500 acres in Naivasha changed to Kenya Wildlife Service Training and Research Centre, bringing on board all science researchers from across the region.

In a raft of measures meant to improve the institute that runs certificate and diploma courses in science and environment disciplines, the Government will also change the curriculum to cater for the rising market demands.

According to Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala, the institute will undergo a transformation in line with the Technical and Vocational Training Act.

Speaking in Naivasha, Mr Balala said the institute played a key role in producing quality students in the various science and environment fields, adding that they were committed to ensuring it now does research.

“I have directed the PS for Wildlife to work closely with KWS board and the management of the institute to ensure that in the next three months, we have a clear strategy of where we want to take the institute,” he said.

Balala said Utalii College would also set up a campus at the institute to attract students from the North Rift and western Kenya who would no longer have to travel to Nairobi to acquire the necessary knowledge in the hospitality industry.

He, at the same time, said all the three parcels owned by KWS in Naivasha would be fenced to ward off grabbers, noting that its critical location had made it a haven for "greedy" individuals.