The best catering schools in Kenya do not just teach their students to cook; they also teach them to cook successfully by running good catering businesses. Kenya is a country that is rich in culture, and food is a pivotal part of Kenya’s culture. With over 2 million tourists visiting annually, and several more coming in for business purposes, there is so much economic potential in the food and catering industry.

With so much potential for business, there is steep competition between Kenya’s top catering schools. Young people with interest in the culinary arts are thus faced with the challenge of choosing catering schools that offer the best chance of giving them the platform upon which to build solid careers in the industry.

The following culinary schools have become famous for the quality of training they offer; they have therefore positioned themselves as the standard with which other schools are measured.

Top 10 Best Catering Schools In Kenya

1. Kenya Utalii College

Kenya Utalii College has been recognized as one of the top places to learn the culinary arts in Kenya. Now it is increasing its popularity, and has become one of the most recognized hospitality and tourism training institution in Africa; offering training in the African way.

Kenya Utalii College gives equal attention to both the local and international aspects of the hospitality and tourism industry. The school recognizes that many people come into Kenya for a taste of African culture and cuisine.

Some of the courses offered by this institution include;

Tourism and Hospitality

Diploma courses in Hotel Management

Certificate in Food and Beverage Service and Sales

Certificate in Food Production Apprenticeship

Certificate in Food Production

For more information contact them via:

Location: Next to Kenya Utalii College, Ruaraka, Nairobi.

Contacts: 0722 205 492, 0733 600 584.

Email: [email protected].

2. International Hotel & Tourism Institute

The International Hotel and Tourism Institute also called IHTI offers a high quality standard of learning when it comes to the culinary arts. This institute offers accredited courses, and many of its students have gone on to have great careers in the food and catering industry.

Some of the courses offered include;

Hospitality Management (BTEC HND)

Food and Beverage Management

Front Office Operations

Food & Beverage Service Supervision

Wine & Bar Knowledge

For more information contact them via:

Physical Location: Nyeri Road, Kileleshwa, Nairobi.

Phone Contacts: 0711 129 610

Email Contact: [email protected].

3. Kasarani Catering College

Kasarani Catering College was established over a decade ago. The school has grown to have two campuses where young people are taught the culinary arts in preparation for careers in the catering and hospitality industry.

Kasarani Catering College has a reputation for producing some of the most promising talents in the food and catering industry; students are exposed to the pressures of working in big kitchens, with all the demands of producing quantity at speed without compromising quality.

Some of the courses offered by this college include:

Food Production

Bakery

Cookery

Hotel Management

House Keeping

Food and Beverage Management

For more information please contact:

Physical Address: Opposite Overcomers Church, Off Mwiki – Kasarani Road, Kenya

Phone Contact: 0721 429 839.

Email Contact: [email protected].

4. Boma International Hospitality College (BIHC)

Boma International Hospitality College (BIHC) is largely recognized as one of the best catering schools in Kenya. It is a world class institute for the culinary arts, it is already one of the institutions producing many of the hoteliers working in top hotels and restaurants in the country; and may likely continue to produce much of the top professionals in the industry.

One thing that works in the favor of this institution is the fact that it offers that 5 star hotel environment which will enable the students blend in when they start working.

Foundation Program in Hospitality Operations

International Hospitality Management

Hospitality Operations

International Cookery, Pastry and Bakery, and so on.

For more information please contact:

Physical Location: Red Cross Road, South C, Nairobi.

Phone Contacts: 0719 050 540

Email Contacts: [email protected].

5. Top Chefs Culinary Institute

Top Chefs Culinary Institute is poised to produce the top chefs in Kenya. This culinary institute offers intensive training in the culinary arts, as well as other aspects of managing and operating hospitality ventures such as hotels, restaurants and so on. However, the main focus of this institute is food, as one can observe from the courses offered.

Top Chefs Culinary Institute offers the following programmes;

Diploma course in Pastry & Bakery

Diploma course in the Culinary Arts

Short courses in Cookery

Short course in Bakery and Pastry

For more information please contact:

Physical Location: 5th Floor Parklands Plaza, Westlands, Nairobi.

Phone Contacts: 0700 691 427, 020 374 0166.

Email Contact: [email protected].

6. Eldoret Technical Training Institute

Eldoret Technical Training Institute is one institute that has done surprisingly well in the culinary arts despite offering a very wide range of training courses in several industries.

This institute has already produced some fine cooks and chefs working in the hospitality industry, and continues to attract many young people who wish to work in the hospitality industry.

Some of the programs offered by this institute include;

Food & Beverage Management

Food & Beverage Production & Service

International Travel and Tourism Management

Catering and accommodation

For more information please contact:

Address: Telecom House, Orange House, Kenyatta Street, Eldoret, Kenya

Contact: 0725 818 644

Email: [email protected].

7. Rifkins College

Rifkins College is one of the most popular places to learn the culinary arts in Kenya. The courses and style of teaching in this college accommodate people of all backgrounds and intentions.

There are short courses for those who wish to gain the knowledge to help them set up their own establishments, as well as courses that will help young people have careers in the bigger establishments within the hospitality industry in Kenya.

Some of the courses offered include:

Diploma in Hospitality Management

Certificate in Hotel and Catering Supervision

Some of the programs offered by this institute include;

Physical Location: Focal Point Building, Digo Road, Mombasa.

Phone Contact: 0715 043 739.

Email Contact: [email protected].

8. Amboseli Institute Of Hospitality & Technology

Amboseli Institute Of Hospitality & Technology is a is a top catering school in Kenya which is dedicated to providing the professional skills needed to work in the hospitality industry.

However, this school is not only looking to provide the skills to Kenyans; it is poised to become the number one hospitality school for the entire East Africa region.

Some of the courses offered include:

Pastry & Bakery

Housekeeping & Laundry Operations

Front Office Operations & Administration

Food Production

Artisan Cookery & Bakery

Food & Beverage Sale

Hospitality Management

Some of the courses offered include:

Physical Location: Kiboko Road, Thika, Kenya.

Phone Contacts: 0720 663 860, 0732 539 762.

Email Contact: [email protected].

9. Impact Chefs & Hospitality Academy

Impact chefs is an impressive establishment indeed. This is an institution that is poised to provide top level culinary education to provide skilled manpower for the tourism industry which is very important in Kenya. The school environment is beautiful and the practical classes are intense. Even the kitchens look like those in 5 star hotels.

After studying at this institution, students can easily blend into the high pressure working environments of the top hospitality establishments of Kenya.

Some of the courses offered include:

Diploma in Food Production

Certificate in Food Production

Certificate in Bakery and Pastry

Certificate Food and Beverage

HACCP and Food Safety Course

For more information:

Physical Location: Mukoma Road, South B, South Gate Centre, Nairobi.

Phone Contact: 0754 888 000.

Email Contact: [email protected].

10. St Kizito Vocational Training Institute

St Kizito Vocational Training Institute offers a wide range of courses and skills, but over the course of its existence it has been a great place to study the culinary arts. Parents may be happy to hear that being a Catholic institution special care is paid to environment; to ensure that it is safe and morally sound.

Some of the courses available include:

Artisan Catering Course

NVCET Catering Course

Short Course in Cookery

Short Course in Pastry & Bakery

Short Course in Cookery and Bakery

For more information:

Physical Location: Githurai-Kimbo, Ruaraka and Roysambu, Nairobi.

Physical Contacts: 020 219 6799.

Career Opportunities For Caterers In Kenya

There are many career paths you can chose when you conclude a course of study in catering, and some of them are: you could become a Chef there are many sub chefs before becoming a master chef, and some of them are:  Saucier, vegetable, fry, roast, fish, or grill chef.

Other roles are Culinary Arts instructor, Restaurant cook, Food production manager, Executive Chef, Foodservice manager, Nutrition service manager, Food and beverage manager, Assistant food service manager,  Catering sales manager, Kitchen manager, Director of food and beverages, 

 Director of catering, Culinary Manager, Foodservice Director, Restaurant general manager, Chef instructor Dietary manager, Foodservice supervisor, Director of food and nutritional services.

You can even establish your own restaurant.

In conclusion on training and the best catering schools In Kenya, A word of advice though, you have to be willing to work your way up from the bottom of the kitchen, put in the work, and then rise to the top. Cooking is a creative business so you have to be willing to experiment and break a few rules. 

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