Ronald Ngala Utalii College opens doors after 20 years of delays

Twenty years after the project was conceived and amid years of controversy, Ronald Ngala Utalii College in Kilifi has finally opened its doors.

The Sh4.9 billion institution in Vipingo, Kilifi County, has admitted its first cohort after years of delays, procurement disputes and corruption allegations that threatened to turn the ambitious tourism training project into a white elephant.

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano said the college was conceived two decades ago, but the groundbreaking took place in 2013.

“It is a modern, state-of-the-art college, a dream come true. President Ruto promised that during his administration this college that has taken very long would be operationalised, and we are here to fulfil that promise,” she said.

Ms Miano said President William Ruto would officially open the institution before the end of the year. The college admitted 200 students in its inaugural cohort on Tuesday, September 1, against a capacity of 1,000. This marked the beginning of what the government hopes will become one of Kenya’s biggest hospitality training institutions.

The Cabinet Secretary added that the opening of the college would transform Vipingo by attracting businesses and stimulating development in the area. She said the institution would offer training for Kenya’s local hotel and hospitality industry while also placing significant emphasis on preparing young people for employment in the cruise industry.

“The uncompleted works will be finished as quickly as possible, but as of today, the facility that we have is ready and able to accommodate our students,” she said.

The government has already begun pursuing partnerships with international hospitality companies to ensure graduates have access to jobs beyond Kenya. Ms Miano said global shipping firm Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) had agreed to partner with the Government in offering employment opportunities.

MSC Cruises is one of the world's major cruise operators, with a strong presence in Europe and a growing market in North America. The partnership is expected to open opportunities for graduates in the international cruise and hospitality industry, giving them access to a global employment market.

“This is the first college in Kenya that has guaranteed all its graduates job opportunities once they complete their courses. Our partner will employ all of them. This is good news for Kenya,” she said.

Tourism and Wildlife Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said the reopening marked a significant milestone in efforts to address skills shortages and improve service standards in the hospitality sector.

The 60-acre institution was conceived as a centre of excellence to complement Kenya Utalii College in Nairobi and serve the tourism industry at the Coast. It is expected to become the second-largest government-owned hospitality training institution in the country.

For Kilifi leaders, the opening marks the end of a long and frustrating wait. Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga said generations had grown up watching the project remain incomplete.

“It has not been easy. As Kilifi leaders, we have been pushing for its construction and reopening. A child who was born when this college was being constructed is today 20 years old and would be admitted today,” Mr Chonga said.

Kilifi North MP Owen Baya said the project had been a source of disagreements between local leaders and former Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary particularly over its implementation.

“This is a dream that began a long time ago. It was part of the late President Mwai Kibaki’s dream that we also build a five-star hotel for attachment and jobs,” Mr Baya said.

The project has a troubled history. In 2023, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) arrested Mr Balala, who faced 10 corruption-related charges over allegations surrounding the establishment of the Coast branch of Kenya Utalii College, later renamed Ronald Ngala Utalii College.

The case centred on allegations that the Tourism Fund fraudulently paid Sh8.5 billion to firms involved in establishing the institution. The EACC said its investigations established that not all the money paid to the firms was legitimate, alleging that the companies had been overpaid by Sh1.48 billion.

Mr Balala was later acquitted after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) sought to withdraw the case. The Magistrates Court in Malindi allowed the withdrawal after the ODPP said investigations were incomplete and there had not been full disclosure.

The prosecution also said the timeline for completing the investigations was uncertain, making it impractical to proceed with the case at the time.

The controversies surrounding the project raised questions about delays, procurement and value for money. Prof Bitok said the college would focus on quality training and seek to restore the reputation associated with Kenya Utalii College.

“The college will have boarders and day scholars. We will ensure every facility is functional without any delay. We have the timetable ready. We shall bring back the glory of Utalii College in terms of training and quality,” he said.

Kenya Utalii College Principal and Chief Executive Officer Mark Ogendi said the institution was ready to receive students. He said young people who had completed the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), including those with lower grades, could apply for courses offered at the institution.

The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) is handling placement of students at the college. KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer Agnes Wahome urged young people who had completed KCSE to consider pursuing tourism and hospitality courses at the institution.

The reopening has also received political backing from leaders who said the project had remained dormant for too long.

Youth Affairs and Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya and Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho said the stalled project had been revived following a directive by President Ruto.

Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo welcomed the completion of the college but challenged the Government to ensure local residents benefit from the investment.

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