Ushiriki Wema Foundation chairperson Tessie Musalia (right) and Turkish Ambassador Subutay Yuksel sample coffee during handing over of state-of-the-art barista machines to Kenya Utalii College/HANDOUT
Kenya Utalii College has launched a new Barista Training
Centre in a move aimed at expanding employment and income opportunities for
young people in the hospitality and coffee sectors.
The initiative has been supported through a partnership
between the Republic of Türkiye, via the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination
Agency (TİKA), and the Ushiriki Wema Foundation.
The collaboration seeks to equip Kenyan youth with
practical, industry-relevant skills that respond to the growing demand for
skilled professionals in the coffee and tourism industries.
Speaking during the launch ceremony, Turkish Ambassador to
Kenya Subutay Yuksel said Kenya’s coffee enjoys global recognition, not only as
a premium export but also as a symbol of the country’s heritage and economic
potential.
“Kenya enjoys worldwide recognition for its high-quality
coffee, a product that represents both heritage and economic potential,” Yuksel
said.
“To fully unlock this potential, there is a clear and
growing need for skilled professionals who can add value across the coffee
sector.”
The project is designed to train professional baristas who
can serve Kenya’s expanding hospitality industry as well as the wider coffee
value chain.
The centre is fully equipped with modern barista machines
and technology and will offer both theoretical instruction and hands-on
practical training.
The curriculum covers the entire coffee journey, from farm
to cup, ensuring trainees gain a comprehensive understanding of coffee
production, processing and preparation.
Students enrolled at the centre will receive
practice-oriented training in roasting techniques, espresso-based beverages and
cold drink preparation.
According to the project partners, the skills imparted are
aligned with international standards, enabling graduates to compete locally and
globally in the coffee and hospitality industries.
Yuksel said the initiative would play a key role in
strengthening Kenya’s coffee culture while supporting sustainable employment
and improving service standards in the tourism sector.
“More broadly, it symbolises the deepening friendship and
cooperation between Türkiye and Kenya, founded on mutual respect, shared
values, and a common vision for development,” he said. “I am confident that
this Barista Training Centre will become a model for vocational training in
Africa and a proud symbol of Türkiye–Kenya cooperation.”
Chairperson of the Ushiriki Wema Foundation, Tessie Musalia
Mudavadi, said the launch of the centre aligns with Kenya Utalii College’s
long-standing mission to produce highly skilled and globally competitive
professionals for the hospitality and tourism industry.
“The mission at Kenya Utalii College to develop highly
skilled and globally competitive professionals for the hospitality and tourism
industry is a source of pride that we must carry as a nation,” Tessie said. “It
is our hope that these barista machines will boost your capacity to enroll and
train even more young people.”
She noted that while barista training may appear simple on
the surface, it holds significant value in a country renowned for producing
some of the world’s finest coffee.
“Barista training may seem simple, but in Kenya, a country
celebrated for its world-class coffee, it is a valuable skill that opens doors
locally and internationally, creating opportunities for employment,
entrepreneurship, and self-reliance,” she said.
“This training is an investment in your skills, your
potential, and your future as brand ambassadors, helping to add value to
Kenya’s coffee heritage.”
Kenya Utalii College Chief Executive Officer Mark Ogendi
said the new facility would enhance the quality of training offered to barista
students by aligning learning with industry needs and global best practices.
“The centre will go a long way in ensuring barista students
receive quality, industry-aligned training and meaningful exposure to global
standards of coffee craftsmanship,” Ogendi said.
He added that the facility is expected not only to improve
learning outcomes but also to attract more young people to barista training and
position Kenya as a regional hub for professional coffee excellence.