Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary, Najib Balala, has picked Jacinta Mbithi Nzioka as the National Convention Bureau’s acting national co-ordinator to spearhead the push for more global conferences.
Established in September, the bureau is expected to enable Kenya to compete with Rwanda, a country that has in recent times successfully used its entity to win major conferences. Besides, it will help the country tighten its grip on Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE).
The director of marketing at the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) has over 15 years of experience in the tourism field, and has led several initiatives and projects aimed at turning around the sector working closely with other government agencies and strategic partners both locally and abroad.
Prior to joining KTB, she worked as a lecturer at Moi University and as a destination marketing specialist for the British Council. She is also one of the founding executive directors of the Kenya Association of Women in Tourism and member to the board of Ecotourism Kenya.
Ms Mbithi holds an MBA in strategic management and a Bachelor’s degree in tourism management from Moi University and a post graduate Diploma in marketing of services from Maastricht School of Management in the Netherlands. She is also the only African in the Advisory Board of the World Tourism Forum Lucerne. The times ahead are challenging but it is noteworthy that she has the much needed skills to run the new outfit, and only time will determine the outcome.
