Hundreds of workers in Kenya’s tourism and hospitality industry are gaining formal qualifications through a government-backed programme that recognises skills acquired through practical experience rather than conventional classroom training. The Tourism Fund’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) initiative assesses and certifies workers who have acquired occupational competencies on the job but lack formal certificates to demonstrate their abilities.
Dr Lawrence Guantai, Director of Trainer Management at the State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), said the government had developed and approved a policy to guide the assessment and certification of people who gained skills outside formal training institutions. Speaking during the graduation ceremony for Cohort 27 of the RPL initiative at Michuki National Polytechnic, Guantai said certification places successful candidates within the Kenya National Qualifications Framework, allowing them to progress to higher qualification levels through further training and assessment.
“Those who have qualified today have been placed at level three,” Guantai said, noting that beneficiaries could advance to higher levels depending on their abilities and subsequent training.
266 beneficiaries receive training and certification
At Michuki National Polytechnic, 159 workers in the hospitality and tourism industry received RPL certification, while 24 others underwent content creation training. An additional 83 hotel owners and managers received management training, bringing the total number of beneficiaries at the event to 266. Tourism Fund trustee Dorcas Mbalanya said the programme was designed to address a gap in the labour market, where people possess valuable practical competencies but lack formal qualifications to prove their skills.
She cited mechanics operating along Nairobi’s Grogan Road as an example of workers who may have extensive technical experience without having attended formal training institutions. Mbalanya said the Tourism Fund supports skills development through a revolving fund backed by the two per cent tourism levy collected from hotels, bars, restaurants and other catering establishments.
She reported that 9,388 people had so far benefited from upskilling under the programme. The initiative has no age limit, as it targets people who already possess relevant occupational skills and require formal assessment and certification.
Practical assessment takes centre stage
Michuki National Polytechnic Chief Principal Anne Mbogo said the institution assesses candidates against occupational standards before identifying competency gaps that can be addressed through short-term training. The assessment includes oral, written and practical components, with practical demonstrations accounting for 90 per cent of the assessment and theory contributing the remaining 10 per cent.
“The emphasis is on skills and demonstration, considering that these are people who have been practising these competencies and gaining experience from the industry,” Mbogo said.
Beyond occupational competencies, trainees receive instruction in basic communication, record-keeping and technology to help them adapt to changing workplace demands. Mbogo noted that Recognition of Prior Learning extends beyond hospitality and tourism. The approach can also apply to occupations such as electrical installation, motor vehicle repair, information and communication technology, fashion design and building technology.
This creates an alternative pathway for experienced workers to obtain recognised qualifications without necessarily repeating training they have already mastered through years of practice.
Certification opens new opportunities for experienced workers
Chef Lina Wanjiru of Mima Gardens in Maragua Sub-County was among the beneficiaries who said the programme had helped experienced workers obtain certification while updating their skills to reflect developments in the hospitality industry. Wanjiru said some of the techniques covered during the two-week programme had changed considerably since she trained in college in 2011.
Participants underwent practical and theoretical lessons before sitting their assessments and receiving certification. The Tourism Fund has partnered with technical and vocational training institutions across the country since March 2024 to implement targeted upskilling programmes aimed at improving the competencies, productivity and competitiveness of tourism and hospitality professionals.
The programme highlights the role of TVET institutions in recognising workplace experience, strengthening professional standards and creating pathways for workers to improve their employment prospects, pursue career advancement or establish their own businesses. For Kenya’s informal-sector workforce, Recognition of Prior Learning offers a route to translate years of practical experience into recognised qualifications that can support mobility across the labour market.