Boma International Hospitality College Marks 10-Year Milestone With 169-Fold Revenue Growth
Boma International Hospitality College (BIHC), Kenya’s leading institution for hospitality and culinary arts, has celebrated its 10th anniversary—marking a decade of transformative growth, industry leadership and global impact.
Founded in 2015 with modest beginnings and an initial revenue of KES 17.8 million (USD 137,996), BIHC has grown exponentially, surpassing Ksh3 billion (USD 23 million) in total revenue by 2024 — a remarkable 166-fold increase.
Over the past 10 years, the college has trained over 6,000 graduates and upskilled more than 2,400 industry professionals, cementing its position as a catalyst for excellence in Africa’s hospitality sector.
“At BIHC, we don’t just train students—we inspire careers, uplift communities, and elevate Africa’s presence on the global hospitality stage. Our first decade has laid a strong foundation, and we are just getting started,” said Mike Macharia, Chair of the BIHC Board and CEO of the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers.
Central to BIHC’s success is its strategic partnership with the Business and Hotel Management School (BHMS) in Lucerne, Switzerland. This collaboration enables students to earn Swiss-accredited dual qualifications and access internship and job opportunities in 47 countries across five continents.
BIHC’s diverse faculty, comprising professionals from 45 nationalities, and access to 3-star and 5-star hotel environments through The Boma Hotels, ensures students receive world-class, hands-on training. The institution is also the only hospitality school in Kenya recognized by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) as a Centre of Excellence in Hospitality and Culinary Arts.
The colleage offers an extensive range of programs, including diploma and certificate courses in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, Baking & Patisserie, Barista Skills, Mixology, International Cookery, and language training in French, Spanish, German, and Mandarin.
Scholarship programs and flexible payment options have made quality hospitality education accessible to students from all backgrounds. Through partnerships with African Unlimited, the Swiss Secretariat for Migration, KCB Foundation and Switch Media, the college has supported over 127 learners from across Africa, empowered 643 youth, and trained 276 MSMEs—particularly women and persons with disabilities.
BIHC’s dual vocational apprenticeship model allows students to earn while they learn, and its upcoming Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) framework will certify experienced professionals who lack formal academic credentials.
“Through the Pan African Tourism and Hospitality Research Institute (PATHRI), BIHC is driving research, innovation, and policy dialogue across the continent,” said Joash Olum, Board Chair of The Boma Group of Hotels. “The college has also established progression pathways with institutions like Taylor’s University, Strathmore, USIU-Africa, University of Johannesburg, and the University of Lancashire.”
Graduates of BIHC are making their mark in countries including the UK, Spain, UAE, Maldives, USA, China, and across Africa. The college has represented Kenya at the WorldSkills competitions, winning gold medals in culinary arts.
Beyond academics, BIHC offers consultancy and capacity-building support to institutions such as Ethiopian Skylight Hotel, UNESCO/UNEVOC, and Kenyatta National Hospital. It hosted Africa’s first African Cuisine Competition in 2023 and is the first private college in Kenya recommended for polytechnic status.
As it looks to the future, BIHC is embracing sustainability with initiatives like Farm-to-Fork and zero-waste cooking, while integrating e-learning through Moodle and advancing culinary innovation with molecular gastronomy and fusion cuisine.
In recognition of its achievements, BIHC has received numerous local and international awards, most recently being named Best Hospitality School in Kenya at the 2024 Tourism Excellence Awards and ranked among Africa’s Top 50 Most Influential Food and Beverage Brands by Cookery Zone.
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