The government has unveiled an ultra-modern kitchen at Ronald Ngala Utalii College in Kilifi that will prepare meals for up to 3,000 diners while serving as a practical training facility for aspiring chefs.
The kitchen was unveiled on Friday, October 2, by Tourism Principal Secretary Julius Bitok as the newly opened college expands its hospitality and tourism training programmes.
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, the facility will cater for students’ food needs while also providing practical lessons for trainees pursuing culinary arts and other food-related courses.
“Ronald Ngala Utalii College (RNUC) has received an ultra-modern kitchen to cater for students’ food and training needs,” the Ministry said.
“The kitchen, which has a capacity to prepare meals for 3000 diners, will also be used for practical lessons for trainees aspiring to be chefs and other culinary-related courses.”
Ronald Ngala Utalii College Unveils Ultra-Modern Kitchen for Chef Training
Bitok said the kitchen was installed with environmental protection, safety, and sustainability in mind.
“We have a kitchen that will promote clean cooking, and that is very safe for our students’ learning experiences. We are deliberate about protecting our environment even as we equip the college with the best available equipment.”
The new kitchen is expected to give culinary trainees an opportunity to gain practical experience in an operating institutional kitchen rather than relying solely on classroom instruction.
The facility comes as the Ronald Ngala campus begins training its pioneer students in Vipingo, Kilifi County.
RNUC, which opened its doors last month, has already attracted 300 students and is expected to accommodate up to 4,000 students when fully operational.
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About Utalii College, Ronald Ngala Campus
The institution offers training in hospitality, housekeeping, front office operations and culinary arts, with plans also underway to support maritime and seafaring training.
Bitok said the college had been established with a wider vision of becoming a specialized training institution serving both the local and international labour markets.
He said the institution was also strategically positioned to support Kenya’s blue economy.
“If you want to study maritime processes, you must study seafaring. That is why this institution has been set up as a premium institution, one of its own kind,” said PS Bitok.
Utalii college is located in the Vipingo area of Kilifi County and is expected to expand its role in preparing young Kenyans for jobs in the tourism, hospitality and maritime sectors.
The institution is designed to offer diploma- and certificate-level training in areas including hospitality management, culinary arts, front office operations, food and beverage management, housekeeping and laundry management, travel and tourism, tour guiding, pastry and bakery, and related fields.
The college is also in talks with the Maritime Shipping Company to support maritime and seafaring training, Bitok said.
Ronald Ngala Utalii College is part of the government’s efforts to expand tourism and hospitality training along the Coast.
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Requirements and Qualifications for a Diploma in Culinary Arts
The Diploma in Culinary Arts trains and develops food production personnel for the hospitality industry.
The course combines intensive practical and theoretical training with a hands-on approach to the daily operations of a professional kitchen.
The programme runs for one-and-a-half years for full-time students and two-and-a-half years for those undertaking the apprenticeship programme.
To qualify, applicants must have a KCSE aggregate grade of C-, with a C- in English and D+ in Mathematics or Home Science, or an equivalent qualification.
Graduates of KUC short courses in Kitchen Operations Techniques, Cake Making and Decorations, or Pastry and Bakery may also apply, provided they attained a Distinction or Credit.
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PHPOTO | Bitok | X
