30/04/2026
247 Graduate in 2026 Kenya Utalii College Central, North Rift and Mara Regions Hospitality Refresher Courses
Patrick Kinyua Prince
www.nakuru.tv
Thursday, 30th April 2026
Naivasha Town, Kenya
1900Hrs
The 2026 Kenya Utalii College Hospitality Refresher Courses for the Central, North Rift and Mara Regions wrapped up today at Lake Naivasha Sawela Lodge in Naivasha. The graduation ceremony was graced by a strong lineup of leaders, including Kenya Utalii College CEO and Chief Principal Mr. Mark Rachuonyo, Naivasha Municipal Board Chairman and Director of Lake Naivasha Sawela Lodge Mr. Peter Gitau Kimani, and Nakuru County Tourism Association Chairman Mr. David Mwangi, who served as the Chief Guest.
Also present were Michael Muturi and Cecilia Wambari from the Kenya Utalii College Council, senior officials from the County Government of Nakuru, the Tourism Fund, the Tourism Regulatory Authority, as well as general managers and leads from various hotels, lodges and resorts across Nakuru, Naivasha, Nairobi, and members of the Uasin Gishu Tourism and Hospitality Association.
Over the past two weeks, 247 participants underwent intensive training in several practical programmes, including Supervisory Skills (Basic Level), Housekeeping Techniques, Banqueting and Events Management, Artistry in Plate Making, Customer Service Excellence, and other targeted modules.
In his address, Mr. Mark Rachuonyo congratulated the graduates for successfully completing the courses and for responding to the industry’s call for regular skills upgrading. He revealed that the college received over 4,000 applications for the 2026 refresher programme alone, a clear sign of the strong demand for continuous professional training in the sector.
Mr. Peter Gitau Kimani, who also hosted the event at his lodge, urged the participants to keep pushing themselves, work both harder and smarter, and use the fresh knowledge to significantly improve guest experiences. He took the opportunity to spotlight the multi-sectoral efforts by the Naivasha Municipal Board to transform Naivasha into a world-class resort city.
The Chief Guest, Mr. David Mwangi, Chairman of the Nakuru County Tourism Association, thanked the leadership of Kenya Utalii College and all the partnering hotels for making the programme a success. He noted that the 2026 cohort of 247 graduates is the largest class the programme has seen since it began 14 years ago in 2012.
Mwangi congratulated the participants for taking the initiative to invest in their growth and stay relevant to current market demands. He also made a strong call to hotels to fully comply with the 2% Catering Levy, which supports marketing and training initiatives that make such programmes possible.
The graduates now head back to their workplaces equipped with enhanced skills and renewed energy to make a real difference in Kenya’s hospitality industry.
