By ABRAHAM MWANGI
A total of 294 trainees have graduated from the Eldoret National Polytechnic after successfully completing a two-week upskilling programme sponsored by the Tourism Fund.
The programme brought together workers and young people seeking to enhance their skills and competitiveness in Kenya’s tourism and hospitality sector.
Of the 294 graduands, 262 underwent training under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme, while 32 were trained in content creation. An additional 52 hotel managers and owners benefited from the initiative, further strengthening skills and capacity within the hospitality industry.
The programme is part of the Tourism Fund’s efforts to equip Kenyan youth and workers in the tourism sector with practical and industry-relevant skills aimed at improving employability, productivity and service delivery.
Speaking on behalf of Tourism Fund Board of Trustees Chairperson Samson Some during the graduation ceremony, Board member Patrick Ngere said the initiative demonstrated the importance of partnerships between training institutions and industry players in strengthening Kenya’s tourism workforce.
Ngere said more than 8,000 workers across the tourism and hospitality sector had so far benefited from targeted two-week upskilling programmes supported by the Tourism Fund.
He said the Fund would continue partnering with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions across the country to implement programmes aimed at enhancing the competencies, productivity and competitiveness of professionals in the tourism and hospitality industry.
“As you return to your respective workplaces, I encourage you to put the knowledge and skills acquired during this programme into practice. Let the training translate into improved service delivery, enhanced customer experiences, greater innovation and increased productivity,” he said.
Ngere also commended employers who allowed their workers to take time away from their workplaces to participate in the training, saying investment in professional development was critical to building a more competent tourism workforce.
The Recognition of Prior Learning programme gives workers an opportunity to have skills and competencies acquired through work experience and other forms of informal learning assessed and formally recognised.
The content creation component, meanwhile, seeks to equip participants with digital skills that can be applied in promoting tourism products and services, marketing hospitality establishments and taking advantage of opportunities presented by the growing digital economy.
Ngere urged students pursuing tourism and hospitality-related courses to take advantage of opportunities provided through the Tourism Training Revolving Fund.
He said more than 5,800 students had so far benefited from the Fund, which facilitates access to training opportunities for Kenyans seeking to pursue careers in tourism and hospitality.
“The Fund also supports professionals already employed in the industry who wish to further their education, enhance their skills and advance their careers,” he said.
He challenged the graduates to embrace continuous professional development and share information about available training opportunities with their colleagues and other practitioners in the tourism and hospitality industry.
The Tourism Fund says continued investment in skills development is necessary to ensure Kenya has a competent workforce capable of responding to changing consumer expectations and the evolving demands of the tourism and hospitality industry.
The partnership with Eldoret National Polytechnic is part of the Fund’s broader collaboration with TVET institutions to strengthen professional capacity across the country.
The initiative is also expected to contribute to improved customer experiences, innovation and productivity within the sector, while creating greater opportunities for workers to advance their careers.
The graduation marked an important milestone for the 294 trainees, who now return to their workplaces and communities with enhanced skills and knowledge to contribute to the growth of Kenya’s tourism and hospitality industry.
