Hospitality workers in the Nandi County have embarked on a three-week skills upgrading programme at the Kaiboi National Polytechnic aimed at improving service standards and enabling experienced workers to obtain professional certification.

The programme, fully funded by the Tourism Fund, incorporate chefs, food and beverage attendants, hotel managers and other hospitality workers.

Nandi County is banking on a more skilled hospitality workforce, to improve tourist experiences and unlock greater economic opportunities from the tourism sector.

Nandi County Executive Committee Member for Trade and Tourism, Isaiah Keter, said skilled hospitality workers were critical to the county’s efforts to grow tourism.

“We want every tourist to leave Nandi with a memorable experience, not only from our scenery, but from how they are received and handled,” Keter said.

He said the programme would also recognise skills acquired through experience, noting that “we are recognising prior learning of our people.”

Keter said investment in human resources was essential to improving service delivery and ensuring the tourism sector benefited local residents.

Nandi County Hospitality and Tourism Association (NACHOTA), Deputy Chairman, Peter Chalicha, said the training would enable workers to sharpen their skills and improve the quality of services offered to visitors.

“We have come to enhance the knowledge we already have in hotel matters,” Chalicha said.

Hospitality worker Charity Wayuya, said certification would give experienced workers formal recognition of their skills.

“Most of us have the skills, but no certificate,” Wayuya said.

Kaiboi National Polytechnic Deputy Principal, Philemon Keter, noted that the programme was giving workers an opportunity to have their existing competencies assessed and certified without incurring training costs.

“The beneficiaries have not contributed anything; they are here to be assessed and certified,” he said.

The three-week programme is expected to strengthen professionalism in the hospitality industry and improve the quality of services offered to tourists, while creating opportunities for workers to advance their careers.

by Geoffrey Satia