The new Ronald Ngala Utalii College in Kilifi county. /KUCCPS/XThe Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has taken its application support services to three coastal counties as Form Four leavers seek admission to the new Ronald Ngala Utalii College in Kilifi for the September 2026 intake.
The placement agency is offering in-person application support and sensitisation to prospective students in Kilifi, Kwale and Tana River counties, targeting young people interested in pursuing diploma and certificate programmes in hospitality and tourism.
The four-day exercise ends on Saturday, August 22, a day before the August 23 deadline for applications to the September intake.
KUCCPS has urged Form Four leavers who have not completed their applications or need guidance on the process to visit the support centres in their respective counties.
"KUCCPS welcomes Form Four leavers for sensitisation and guidance on ongoing applications to Kenya Utalii College, Ronald Ngala Campus. Don't struggle when help is near you," the placement agency said.
The outreach follows KUCCPS's opening of the application portal for the September intake at Ronald Ngala Utalii College, located in Vipingo, Kilifi county.
The new college is scheduled to officially open on September 1, 2026, when it will admit its inaugural cohort of 1,000 students.
Its establishment is expected to expand access to specialised tourism and hospitality training in the coastal region while supporting skills development for Kenya's tourism sector.
The September intake offers seven diploma programmes and six certificate programmes for students seeking specialised training in hospitality and tourism.
The diploma programmes are Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, Front Office Operations, Food and Beverage Management, Housekeeping and Laundry Management, Travel and Tourism Management, and Tour Guiding and Administration.
The certificate programmes are Travel and Tour Operations, Tour Guiding and Administration, Housekeeping and Laundry Operations, Food and Beverage Service and Sales, Pastry and Bakery, and Front Office Operations.
Applicants seeking admission to diploma programmes must have attained a minimum KCSE mean grade of C plain, together with the required subject combination and grades.
Those applying for certificate programmes require a minimum KCSE mean grade of C- (minus).
The application support exercise is aimed at helping eligible applicants overcome challenges they may face when applying through the online placement system, particularly those who require assistance to understand the programmes, entry requirements or application process.
In Tana River county, KUCCPS support officers are stationed in Hola, Msalani, Garsen, Minjila, Kipini, Madogo and Bura.
In Kwale county, prospective applicants can access the services in Ukunda, Diani, Msambweni, Tiwi, Kombani, Kwale, Waa, Kinango, Shimba Hills, Samburu, Ramisi and Lungalunga.
In Kilifi county, support is available in Kilifi town, Mavueni, Tezo, Kikambala, Chumani, Malindi, Msabaha, Watamu, Gede, Matsangoni, Mariakani, Kaloleni, Mazeras, Bamba, Mambrui, Magarini, Marafa and Gongoni.
KUCCPS said applicants who need additional information on the exercise or the admission process can contact the agency through 020-5137400 or 0713-924 444.
The September intake follows a similar application exercise conducted in March, when KUCCPS opened applications for 13 diploma and certificate programmes at Kenya Utalii College main campus in Nairobi.
The March exercise marked the first time the college was incorporated into the KUCCPS central placement system, expanding access to specialised hospitality and tourism training through the agency's application platform.
The establishment of Ronald Ngala Utalii College adds to the network of specialised institutions providing professional training for the hospitality and tourism industry.
Kenya Utalii College, which operates under the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, has trained more than 60,000 graduates since its establishment 47 years ago.
Its graduates have joined Kenya's hospitality and tourism industry as well as international markets, with the college providing professional training in areas including hotel operations, food and beverage services, tourism and travel.
The opening of the Vipingo campus is therefore expected to provide more opportunities for young people in the coastal region to acquire industry-specific skills while strengthening the human capital pool for the tourism and hospitality hub.
With the application deadline set for August 23, prospective students have been advised to complete their applications before the window closes and seek assistance from the KUCCPS support centres where necessary.
The inaugural cohort is expected to begin training when the college officially opens on September 1, marking a new chapter in the expansion of tourism and hospitality education in the region.
