KUCCPS sensitising students on its mandate, career pathways and ongoing TVET, KMTC and Kenya Utalii College applications during the ASK Embu show, March 13, 2026. /KUCCPS/X

The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service has opened its online application portal for diploma and certificate courses at Kenya Utalii College, following a partnership between the two institutions aimed at widening access to hospitality and tourism training.

Until last year, the college, which is operated under the Ministry of Tourism, admitted students directly.

KUCCPS said the new milestone is aimed at enhancing equitable, fair and efficient access for Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates seeking training at the prestigious hospitality institution.

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The application window will remain open until April 1, 2026.

“The application, which runs until April 1, 2026, is open to Form Four leavers who sat the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination, and those from previous years,” the placement agency said.

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A total of 13 diploma and certificate courses have been listed on the portal.

Diploma programmes available for application include Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, Front Office Operations, Food and Beverage Management, Housekeeping and Laundry Management, Travel and Tourism Management, and Tour Guiding and Administration.

Certificate courses open for application are Front Office Operations, Pastry and Bakery, Housekeeping and Laundry Operations, Food and Beverage Service and Sales, Travel and Tour Operations, and Tour Guiding and Administration.

Kenya Utalii College becomes the latest training institution operated outside the Ministry of Education to join the KUCCPS placement system.

The collaboration was finalised on January 19 during a meeting at the college between KUCCPS chief executive Mercy Wahome and Utalii College principal Mark Ogendi.

During the meeting, the two institutions announced that the partnership would go beyond student placement to include labour market research, development of career pathways and grassroots mobilisation to encourage more students to take up training opportunities in the hospitality and tourism sector.

With the move, Kenya Utalii College joins 155 other colleges under various government ministries that initially admitted students directly but have since adopted the KUCCPS placement system.

These include institutions such as the Kenya Medical Training College and the Kenya School of Law whose 2026 enrolments mark the inaugural intakes through the placement service.

Wahome said the KUCCPS placement framework helps ensure fairness and merit in access to higher education and training opportunities while enabling institutions to attract students from across the country.

Applications must be submitted online through the KUCCPS Student’s Portal available at http://kuccps.ac.ke.

Applicants who require assistance have been advised to visit KUCCPS offices at ACK Garden House on Ngong Road in Nairobi or seek support at Kenya Utalii College or the nearest Huduma Centre.

Kenya Utalii College has trained over 60,000 graduates from around the world since its establishment 47 years ago.

It is one of Kenya's leading hospitality and tourism training institution who graduates continue to serve in the Kenyan and international hospitality and tourism industry.