Kenya Wine Agencies Limited (KWAL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mukuru Promotion Centre (MPC) and Tamarind Group to upskill the youth in Mukuru informal settlements in culinary training.
KWAL will be investing at least Ten Million Kenya Shillings (KES. 10,000,000) over a period of 3 years on a program dubbed ‘Inua’ meant to impact youth by enabling them to earn a decent living in the Hospitality Industry.
Inuais a vocational training program targeting the youth from informal settlements which seeks to scale a consistent approach in supporting the hospitality industry value chain in Kenya through skills enhancement.
Speaking during the MOU signing event, KWAL Managing Director, Ms. Lina Githuka commented, “Beyond technical skills training, our vision with INUA is to promote a sense of belonging to the participants. We want to holistically nurture the potential of our youth.”
She added, “In line with this, we redesigned the program, to equip the participants with the necessary exposure and mindset they require to succeed in life.”
The Inua program has been enabled by the Tripartite partnership between KWAL, Mukuru Promotion Centre and Tamarind Group.
Mukuru Promotion Centre Director, Sister Mary Killeen commented, “The youth will be undergoing an intense training through a comprehensive hospitality curriculum to ensure they become the best at culinary art. The training will cover various aspects of the hospitality industry, including culinary arts, customer service, hotel management, and more. It’s designed not just to equip our students with the skills they need to succeed but also to instil in them the confidence to aspire for greatness.”
As partners, Mukuru Promotion Centre will be conducting the program with the youth at Mukuru. Through their Vocational Institute, MPC provides an opportunity for the youth from disadvantaged background to gain relevant skill, break the cycle of poverty and inspire others in their community. At the moment, 40 students are enrolled for the Food and Beverage Course and will all stand a chance to benefit in the INUA partnership.
The Tamarind Group will be assisting and coordinating the trainees’ tours in the hotel chain and chef exchange visits to equip the students with the technical know-how and real-life chef experiences. In addition, Tamarind Group will be providing the program participants with the opportunity to be part of their Apprentice Program which will not only offer the students practical experience, but also give them a foot in the door of the Hospitality Industry.
Tamarind Group Operations Director, Joseph Gacheru commented, “Learning hospitality skills isn’t just about acquiring the knowledge to serve; it’s about learning the art of making others feel welcome, understood, and valued. It’s a profound transformation that goes beyond professional development to personal growth. The internship opportunities will not only provide practical experience but also a foot in the door of the hospitality industry, offering a glimpse into the inner workings of a globally renowned hospitality brand.”
KWAL will be sponsoring and facilitating the trainees’ activities at Mukuru Promotion Centre.
Also present at the signing ceremony was The Regional Director of the State Department of Youth and creative economy, Mr. Daniel Kirui, who affirmed the government’s commitment in addressing youth concerns in the country. ‘‘The INUA program perfectly aligns with this government’s commitment to uplift young Kenyans, ensuring they have the capacities to establish meaningful careers and contribute to our nation’s socio-economic development, by not only enhancing the value chain of the hospitality industry but also directly contributing to the reduction of unemployment and underemployment among our youth.’’ He stated in his speech.
The Inua program is in line with fulfilling and attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 8 through promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. The program also supports Chapter 3 of Agenda 21 of the United Nations which mentions the need to strengthen employment and income- generating programmes as tool of eradicating poverty and the need of generating employment for vulnerable groups, specifically women, urban poor, unemployed rural labour as well as low-income urban residents.