The Head of Facilities and Operations, Ms. Joanne Kaittany underscored the importance of staying current with industry trends and continuously building staff capacity to ensure high standards of service delivery.

The Director IPSTC, Brigadier Joyce Sitienei, expressed gratitude to the hospitality team for their dedication and professionalism, which have been instrumental in upholding the Centre’s international reputation. She reiterated the significance of ongoing training and development.

The training will be conducted in partnership with ELS Training Centre, known for its expertise in hospitality education.

This marks the third English-language iteration of the course, following the successful launch of the All Arms Search Course under the United Nations Triangular Partnership Programme (UN TPP) on 17 February 2025 at HPSS.

In his opening remarks, Lt Col Kaptuway welcomed the participants and emphasized the vital role the course plays in equipping personnel with the skills needed to operate in Improvised Explosive Device (IED) threat environments. He highlighted its alignment with the "Prepare the Force" pillar of the Counter-IED (CIED) strategy and stressed the significance of the trainees' future responsibilities as instructors within their units. He urged them to approach the training with discipline and commitment before officially declaring the course open.

The opening ceremony was also attended by Lt Col Alex Neukom (Head of Training, HPSS), Lt Col (Rtd) Joseph Maritim (GICHD Focal Point – East Africa), Warrant Officer Class I Kering (Senior Master Instructor, CIED Wing), and Warrant Officer Class II Paul Hartin from the British Peace Support Team – Africa.

Colonel Emma Ngigi, Commandant of PCSS, expressed appreciation to the Swiss Government and the Swiss International Relations Defence for sponsoring the course.

Ambassador Mirko Giulietti underscored the importance of the training, stating, “Supporting security sector reform strengthens the rule of law. The security sector must integrate the specific needs of the population as a whole.”

The course brings together 29 participants from 14 countries, reflecting its broad international reach.