Mount Kenya University has opened a Sh. 20 million hotel. The MKU hotel has been opened inside the university’s Thika Main Campus and is expected to act as training centre for students pursuing hospitality management courses.
The university founder billionaire Prof. Simon Gicharu said that the new MKU hotel is part of its ongoing efforts to blend theory and practical lessons in order to give students from the university an edge in the job market.
“The Sh20 million hospitality centre being launched today will add to the ultra-modern academic resources needed to support practical training, internship opportunities for students in the school of hospitality, travel and tourism management. This is in addition to strategic business units established by the university to support teaching and learning,” said Prof Gicharu, who is also the chairman of the university’s board of directors.
Prof. Gicharu added that the university is now seeking to open similar multi-million hotels at its campuses in Kigali Rwanda. The university is the second learning facility to venture into the hospitality business through the opening of multi million hotel facility.
In 2018, the NIBS Technical College which is owned by tycoon Lizzie Wanyoike opened the Sh. 450 million five star Emory Hotel in Kileleshwa. The 72-bed capacity hotel s a venture of the business and technical courses trainer based in Ruiru with satellite wings in several towns.
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“We are seeking to use the hotel as a job-creation venture and we have already recruited staff in all of its departments. We will also offer opportunities to suppliers to partner with us in making the business profitable as well as serve our tax obligations for the benefit of the national economy,” she said,, adding that the hotel will also serve Nibs hospitality students through practical skills, attachment and employment.