Engineering

Artisan in Electrical Engineering

The Artisan in Electrical Engineering is a TVET-CDACC Level 4 competency-based programme that trains students in fundamental electrical installation and maintenance support skills. The course is examined by TVET-CDACC and offered across accredited TVET institutions in Kenya. Students learn basic electrical safety, cable handling, tool use, installation assistance, and workshop practices.

The curriculum covers basic units including communication skills, numeracy skills, digital literacy, entrepreneurial skills, employability skills, environmental literacy, and occupational safety and health practices. Core units focus on basic electrical safety, cable handling, tool usage, installation assistance, simple wiring, basic circuits, and industrial attachment in an electrical installation environment.

Kenya's construction sector and electrification programmes create demand for entry-level electrical support personnel. Electrical contractors, construction companies, and maintenance departments require trained assistants for installation support, cable handling, and basic electrical maintenance tasks.

Training combines classroom theory with practical sessions in electrical workshop environments. Students practice cable handling, tool use, basic wiring, installation assistance, and safety procedures under supervised conditions. The programme includes industrial attachment with electrical contractors or in installation projects where students apply their skills in real electrical environments.

Graduates work as electrical assistants, cable handlers, installation helpers, and workshop assistants for electrical contractors, construction companies, and maintenance departments. The qualification provides a foundation for progression to Electrical Engineering Level 5 and Level 6 for specialised electrical installation and engineering roles.

This programme is suitable for KCSE certificate holders with a mean grade of E or KCPE certificate who are interested in electrical work and seeking entry-level positions in the electrical installation and maintenance sector.

Duration: 1 year
Public, up to: Ksh 67,189
Private, up to: Ksh 55,250
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 1 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Artisan Certificate

What you study

8 subjects

Basic Wire Handling
Simple Connections
Cable Carrying
Tool Identification
Electrical Safety Basics
Site Cleanliness
Basic Material Handling
Workplace Safety

Modules

8 in the programme

Workplace Safety
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Occupational safety and health practices for electrical work including safe tool use, electrical hazard awareness, and personal protective equipment for electrical sites.
Basic Wire Handling
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Handling, stripping, terminating, and preparing electrical wires and cables using appropriate tools and following basic electrical installation standards.
Simple Connections
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Making basic electrical wire connections including jointing, terminal connections, and socket wiring under supervision of qualified electricians.
Cable Carrying
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Carrying, unrolling, routing, and handling electrical cables on installation sites including cable management and basic cable placement assistance.
Tool Identification
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Identifying and naming basic electrical tools and equipment including pliers, screwdrivers, wire strippers, multimeters, and cable testers for electrical work.
Electrical Safety Basics
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Basic electrical safety rules including shock prevention, circuit isolation, hazard identification, and safe work practices near electrical installations.
Site Cleanliness
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Maintaining clean, organised, and safe work areas on electrical installation sites including tool storage, cable offcut disposal, and general housekeeping.
Basic Material Handling
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Handling and organising electrical materials including cables, conduits, fittings, junction boxes, and installation consumables on electrical work sites.

Specialisations

Power and Telecommunication Option
Combined electrical power and telecommunication systems support including cable installation, basic wiring assistance, and equipment handling for both power and telecom installations.
Power Option
Basic electrical power systems support including wiring assistance, cable handling, conduit installation, and general support for electrical power installation work.
Telecommunication Option
Basic telecommunication systems support including cable installation, equipment mounting, and general assistance for telecommunication infrastructure installation work.
Instrumentation and Control Option
Basic instrumentation and control systems support including cable handling, sensor installation assistance, and general support for instrumentation and control work.

A day as a student

Students spend virtually all their time in workshops handling basic tools, preparing wires, making simple connections, and assisting with cable handling. The focus is on building basic electrical support skills through hands-on practice.

The trade offs

In its favour

Quick entry to electrical workforce with basic skills.
Most affordable entry point to electrical trades.
Foundation for progression to craft, certificate, and EPRA licensing.

Against it

Entry-level positions have modest salaries.
Basic skills limit initial job options to support roles.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 332 engineering courses

Public67k to 67k

67k at Rift Valley Technical Training Institute67k at Public TVET institutions (standardized fee)

Private53k to 55k

53k at Zetech University55k at NIBS Technical College

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

TVET 67,189/yr public. NIBS 55,250, Zetech 52,500/yr (tvet.co.ke).

TVET government funding and HELB loans are available. Artisan programmes are the most affordable entry point to electrical trades.

Funding options

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Funding
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) - TVET Loans

Scholarships

4 recorded

TVET Funding
Government fundingKenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions, based on financial need.
National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
BursaryKenyan
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
HELB TVET Loans
LoanKenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions, based on financial need.
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties, targeting vulnerable learners.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: KCSE Mean Grade D- (Minus) or below, or KCPE certificate
Alternative entry: KCPE certificate holders are also eligible. No specific subject requirements.

How you are assessed

3 components

Practical Projects
Project25% of the mark
Completion of basic electrical support task projects.
Theory Assessment
Test15% of the mark
Basic written assessment of supporting electrical knowledge.
Competency-Based Practical Assessment
Practicum60% of the mark
TVET-CDACC competency assessment of practical electrical support skills.

Accreditation

Accredited by Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) and certified by TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council (TVET-CDACC) under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF). The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya.

Accredited by

TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council
NationalRequired
Examining and certifying body for competency-based programmes under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF).
Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority
NationalRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all TVET institutions and programmes in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Electrical Site Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 27,000 to Ksh 45,000
Support electrical installation teams with materials and site preparation.
Tool Assistant
Low demandKsh 24,000 to Ksh 38,000
Manage and organise tools for electrical installation teams.
Electrician Mate
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 48,000
Assist electricians with basic tasks on electrical sites.
Cable Carrier
Moderate demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 40,000
Handle and transport cables on electrical installation sites.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as electrician mates and cable carriers in construction and electrical contracting across Kenya.