Balala appoints taskforce to reform Utalii College

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has formed a task force to reform Kenya Utalii College.

Tourism and Wildlife Chief Administrative Secretary Joseph Boinett will chair the task force which is mandated to undertake institutional assessment of the 47-year old college and identify opportunities to secure its future.

Other members are Krishna Unni, Barnabas Wamoto, Ms Shazmin Manji, Mehdi Morad and Ms Lina Ayako. The secretaries will be Kinuthia Ngugi and Munyithya Kimwele. 

Under-funding has been the main cause of the challenges that the college has been facing. 

Utalii College has more than 60,000 graduates from around the world who serve in the local and international hospitality and tourism industry.

According to the Gazette notice, Balala directed the team to review the global landscape of the hospitality training and identify current trends and best practices, including models of training.

Perspectives from hospitality, academic and tourism players will enable the task force to determine the best model to adopt for the college. 

The CS asked the team to make recommendations on the mandate of Utalii College and its role in the tourism sector, it's operations' sustainability, financing and sources of funds and governance and management models.

The Gazette notice read in part, “The ministry will finance the operations of the task force that will conduct its work expeditiously and submit its report to the CS within 30 days of the date of its appointment.”