Kenya’s hospitality industry is headed for strong competitiveness, benefiting from competent personnel and adoption of modern standards as the Government intensifies the extension of investment to address skills gaps and support the capacity of hospitality workers.
Under a rounded programme dubbed Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and upskilling programme, the Government through the Tourism Fund (TF) is financing human resource development to meet the evolving demands of modern hotels, restaurants and other tourism establishments.
“The Recognition of Prior Learning provides an important pathway for recognizing and validating the knowledge, skills and experience that individuals have acquired over time. It also creates opportunities for them to bridge skills gaps, acquire additional competencies and remain relevant and competitive in an ever-evolving global industry,” said Mr. David Mwangi TF Chief Executive Officer.
He added, “Tourism Fund believes that a skilled, professional and motivated workforce is fundamental to delivering quality services, improving visitor experiences and strengthening Kenya’s position as a competitive tourism destination. I have no doubt that, with your renewed skills, knowledge and commitment, you will make a meaningful contribution to the growth and transformation of Kenya’s tourism and hospitality sector.”
Programme components
To execute the programme, TF has partnered with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions with the latter providing classes and lecturers.
In line with its mandate, Mwangi confirmed TF introduced an upskilling programme aimed at strengthening the skills and competencies of workers in the tourism and hospitality sector.
The programme, Mwangi added is implemented for two weeks across the country, targeting tourism and hospitality professionals, hotel managers, directors and owners to strengthen the industry’s pool of skilled, qualified and competent personnel.
Michuki National Polytechnic chief principal Anne Mbogo explained that her institution as an assessment centre identifies and addresses skill gaps the workers are struggling with.
“So 10 per cent of the assessment is done in terms of theory while 90 per cent is experiment. This is supported by the fact that global trends in terms of training dictate competence-based education and training and therefore in that we emphasize on skills trials. Focus on endowed competencies and considering that these are people who have been practicing these abilities and experiences from the industry, “said Ms. Mbogo.
She added, the main role of the TVET institution is to assess and establish whether what they claim to possess is actually what they can demonstrate. And with that then we close the gaps with communication and technology inputs and instruct the trainees how to apply the modern technology in their work.
Director in charge of training management at the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) Lawrence Guantai explained that the programme is recognised under the Government Kenyan National Qualifications Framework (KNQF).
“Because these are people who have been neglected, they have not been recognized, nobody has known them, but they have acquired skills in the industry with no formal training. But currently, through the current reforms in the Ministry of Education, especially the State Department for TVET, Government has developed and approved the recognition of learning policy that guides how to recognize the people, how they present themselves, they are assessed, and then henceforth they are certified,” said Dr. Guantai.
The approach supports all education categorized qualifications providing an opportunity to those being trained to move from level one up to level 10 in this country.
Last week, a total of 489 beneficiaries received certificates during graduation ceremonies held at Kaiboi National Polytechnic in Nandi County and Michuki National Polytechnic in Murang’a County respectively.
At Kaiboi National Polytechnic, 237 beneficiaries were awarded certificates, while 252 beneficiaries received certificates at Michuki National Polytechnic. To date the programme has supported the upskilling of over 9000 beneficiaries, comprising over 6,539 workers, 1,808 managers and 1,041 youth trained in content creation. The two institutions are the latest training centres to offer the programme, bringing the total number of training centres to 34 across the country.
At the same time TF also supports students undertaking hospitality courses in local TVET institutions through a revolving fund which is dispensed through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB). So far the revolving fund has extended Sh330 million benefiting 5,800 students under the programme.
Urbanisation and Devolution
Following the introduction of counties and continued improvement of physical infrastructure as well as enhancement of TVET institutions has attracted investors interested in establishing hotels and other hospitality outlets. County governments are improving infrastructure in their jurisdictions as well as developing regulations favouring new investors in the hospitality sector.
The increasing need to sharpen the skills of the value chain actors is driven by various trends driving the global economy, for example, rapid urbanization, investors diversifying their investment and Government gestures to improve infrastructure. The demographic factors and changing styles of consumers, for instance, demanding well-disciplined workers and whether the hotels have attained global standards.
Nandi County Governor Stephen Sang noted that the tourism and hospitality sector provides opportunities for employment, enterprise development and local economic participation. It is a sector in which practical competence and quality service are essential. “Strengthening the skills of our people therefore contributes not only to individual career developments, but also to the quality and competitiveness of the services offered within the sector,” said Mr. Sang.
According to the World Bank, Kenya is rapidly urbanising, a growth trend it says need to be well monitored to prevent growth of slums. The bank estimates that by 2033 Kenya is expected to reach a tipping point because half of its population will then be living in urban areas and the country will have 37 cities of more than 100,000 residents up from 21 urban centres currently.
Honed skills
Speaking during the graduation ceremony at Kaiboi National Polytechnic, Tourism Fund Board of Trustees Chairperson Samson Some said a skilled and adaptable workforce was critical to responding to the rapidly changing demands of the tourism sector.
“The tourism and hospitality industry is dynamic and continually evolving. Changing customer expectations, rapid technological advancements and an increasingly competitive environment demand a workforce that is not only technically competent, but also innovative, adaptable and committed to delivering excellence,” said Mr. Some.
A member of the TF Board of Trustees Dorcas Mbalanya noted that RPL as a training intervention provides workers with an opportunity to have their existing knowledge, skills and competencies formally recognised and enhanced through structured training.
“It also includes a two-day training programme for directors and managers of tourism and hospitality establishments, designed to strengthen leadership, management and supervisory skills, enhance decision-making and improve organizational performance. In addition, the Tourism Fund provides content creation training for youth, equipping them with digital skills to create and promote content.” she added.
Selina Wangui of Mima Gardens in Muranga County and a beneficiary of the programme hailed the programme saying it will open new opportunities to workers and boost work quality. “We came with a team who are very good at what they do, at their workplaces, but they had no certificates, they had nothing. No document, no evidence to show they are good. And so now having this skill, and also being able to have the certificates, it will take us through,” said Ms. Wangui. She noted the course is timely as it renews past taught issues in colleges and fits well in the changing global hospitality industry.
Emma Njire the director at the Dalton Grand Hotel in central business district in Murang’a town hailed the programme saying it opens workers, managers and owners in the new realities in the global hospitality industry. “The modern hospitality industry demands a skilled workforce as consumer styles have equally changed. Employers are also trained how to deal with seasonalities and business agility,” said Njire.