Balala reassures on new Utalii College project

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala (pictured) has reassured that Ronald Ngala Utalii College that is under construction will be completed by the end of 2019.

Speaking on Saturday, Mr Balala said the college being built on a 40-acre plot was a multi-faceted tourism institution, which would train personnel for the hospitality industry in Kenya and beyond.

He was responding to concerns raised by Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga about the slow pace of construction work.

The project contractor is Mulji Devral and Brothers Company. 

Governor Amason Kingi hinted at the possibility of his administration contributing towards completion of the college, which he termed as an important asset for the county.

The project was initially being undertaken by the Kenya Utalii College before it was transferred to the Tourism Fund. 

Mark Gathuri, a Tourism Fund board member, described the facility as a model college, which would be beneficial to students from Africa and around the globe once it was completed. 

He added that the state-of-the-art complex comes at a time when tourism players have raised concerns over the need to have additional facilities, to offload pressure from the Nairobi-based Utalii College.

The new institution located Vipingo will have modern kitchens, sports complex and conferencing facilities.