KUCCPS, Utalii College Enhance Access to Hospitality Courses in New Partnership

MEDIA RELEASE

Nairobi, January 20, 2026 – Form Four leavers seeking admission to hospitality and tourism courses this year will get access to a wider variety of options, following a landmark collaboration between Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) and Kenya Utalii College.

For the first time, students seeking admission to the college will enrol through KUCCPS, an initiative that is expected to enhance access to the institution’s lucrative and globally acclaimed hospitality and tourism training.

Plans are underway to launch the collaboration before the start of 2026 application for placement to universities and TVET institutions.

Speaking yesterday during a meeting at Kenya Utalii College in Nairobi, KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer Dr. Agnes Mercy Wahome and Kenya Utalii College Principal, Mr. Mark Rachuonyo Ogendi described the initiative as a game changer.

Dr. Wahome noted that the KUCCPS placement system ensures fairness and merit in access to higher education and training opportunities while enabling institutions to attract students from all parts of Kenya. “There is equity in the process, ensuring that institutions achieve the face of Kenya,” she added.

The CEOs indicated that the collaboration will also focus on labour market research, career pathways, and grassroot mobilisation of students to take up available training opportunities.

This is yet another initiative under the whole of government approach towards taking technical and vocational training opportunities closer to citizens. Last week, the two institutions joined the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Tourism at Tinderet Integrated Training and Vocational Institute in Nandi County, where Kenya Utalii College launched its programmes.

With KUCCPS’ coordination, the college also looked forward to an opportunity to engage with other colleges offering tourism and hospitality programmes to harmonise training standards, according to Mr. Ogendi.

Kenya Utalii College is the latest specialised college to join the fair, efficient and transparent KUCCPS student placement process. Others that made the move recently include the Kenya School of Law (KSL), and Morendat Institute of Oil and Gas.

Last year, KSL began offering its Diploma in Law (Paralegal Studies) on the KUCCPS platform, while the Morendat Institute of Oil and Gas availed its certificate and diploma programmes.

Mr. Ogendi noted that by working with KUCCPS on student placement, the college will reach students from all parts of Kenya as it seeks to expand its campus presence in other regions such as Kisumu, Kilifi and Narok counties.

Kenya Utalii College, an affiliate member of UN Tourism, is a Centre of Excellence that has trained skilled workers for Kenyan and global hospitality and tourism markets for 50 years. The institution boasts of a tradition of competency based training that has produced high quality and globally marketable graduates for decades.

Many of the college’s graduates have found job placements in top tourism establishments locally and abroad, according to Mr. Ogendi.

KUCCPS is a government agency established under the Universities Act, 2012 and mandated to coordinate placement of government-sponsored students to universities and colleges, develop career guidance programmes for the benefit of students, and collect and retain data on student placement to higher learning institutions, among other functions.