Tourism Committee Inspects ITK Project at Kenya Utalii College

Members of the Departmental Committee on Tourism and Wildlife today conducted an inspection of the Individual Training Kitchen (ITK) at Kenya Utalii College (KUC) Main Campus, as part of efforts to monitor the progress of the college’s capacity expansion project. The ITK is a key initiative aimed at increasing the institution’s student intake, particularly in the culinary training sector.

During the visit, Mr. Peter Muindi, Acting Principal and CEO of Kenya Utalii College, briefed the Committee on the progress of the ITK project. He explained that the new facility is designed to address the growing demand for vocational training in tourism and hospitality, specifically by expanding the college’s kitchen facilities.

The ITK project was launched to overcome the limitations of KUC’s previous kitchen, which had only 16 cooking stoves and could accommodate just 32 students per session. The new facility, once fully operational, is expected to serve up to 160 students simultaneously, significantly enhancing the college’s training capacity.

The project is being implemented in two phases due to budgetary constraints. Phase 1, which has been allocated Kshs. 104 million from the national budget, is 95% complete and includes the core kitchen infrastructure. Phase 2, which has a budget of Kshs. 297 million, started in November 2023 and is focused on equipping the kitchen with specialized cooking equipment. However, the delivery of these materials has been delayed due to issues with the contracted supplier, based in China.

Despite the delays in Phase 2, Mr. Muindi assured the Committee that the supporting infrastructure for the second phase is complete, and the first training class at the ITK is scheduled to begin in January 2025.

Hon. Kareke Mbiuki, Chairman of the Committee, commended the college for its efforts to modernize and expand its facilities. However, he emphasized the importance of maintaining high levels of transparency and accountability in the execution of public projects. To this end, Hon. Mbiuki directed that Mr. Muindi provide comprehensive documentation on the project, including architectural designs, tender processes, contract awards, and payment schedules. This will ensure that the project meets required standards and aligns with the Committee’s objectives of proper management of public resources.

The inspection and follow-up meeting reflect the government’s commitment to bolstering the capacity of technical and vocational training institutions in Kenya, especially in the critical tourism and hospitality sectors, which are vital to the country’s economy.