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Artisan in Electrical Installation

The Artisan in Electrical Installation is a TVET-CDACC Level 4 competency-based programme that trains students in fundamental electrical installation and wiring support skills for the construction sector. The course is examined by TVET-CDACC and offered across accredited TVET institutions in Kenya. Students learn basic electrical safety, cable handling, conduit installation, wiring assistance, and tool handling.

Duration
1 year
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 67,189
Ksh 67,189 total
Private tuition
Ksh 55,250
Ksh 55,250 total
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 67,189 a year at a public institution, Ksh 67,189 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 55,250 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of KCSE Mean Grade D- (Minus) or below, or KCPE certificate or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 1 year, full-time, with 1 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 186 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Overhead Transmission Technician, at 10 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

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 preparation, conduit bending, simple wiring, tool usage, installation assistance, and industrial attachment in an electrical installation environment.

Kenya's construction sector and rural electrification programmes create sustained demand for entry-level electrical installation support personnel. Electrical contractors, construction companies, and power distribution projects require trained assistants for cable handling, conduit installation, and basic wiring tasks on construction sites.

Training combines classroom theory with practical sessions in electrical workshop and site environments. Students practice cable preparation, conduit bending, basic wiring, tool handling, and installation assistance under supervised conditions. The programme includes industrial attachment with electrical contractors or on construction sites where students apply their skills in real installation environments.

Graduates work as electrical installation assistants, cable handlers, conduit fitting helpers, and wiring assistants for electrical contractors, construction companies, and power distribution projects. The qualification provides a foundation for progression to Electrical Installation 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 electrical installation and wiring for the construction sector.

What you study

8 subjects
  • Basic Wire Stripping
  • Simple Electrical Connections
  • Cable Carrying and Handling
  • Tool Handling
  • 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 installation work including safe tool use, electrical hazard awareness, and personal protective equipment.

  • Basic Wire Stripping

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Stripping insulation from electrical wires safely using wire strippers and knives, following proper techniques to avoid conductor damage during installation work.

  • Simple Electrical Connections

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Making basic electrical wire connections including jointing, terminal connections, and socket wiring under supervision of qualified electricians.

  • Cable Carrying and Handling

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Carrying, unrolling, routing, and handling electrical cables on installation sites including cable management and basic cable placement assistance.

  • Tool Handling

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Identifying, selecting, and safely handling basic electrical installation tools including pliers, screwdrivers, wire strippers, and cable testers for installation 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 installation materials including cables, conduits, fittings, junction boxes, and consumables on electrical work sites.

Specialisations

  • Telecommunication Option

    Basic telecommunication cabling and installation support including cable routing, equipment mounting assistance, and general support for telecommunication installation work.

  • Instrumentation and Control Option

    Basic instrumentation and control installation support including cable handling, sensor mounting assistance, and general support for instrumentation and control installation work.

  • Power and Telecommunication Option

    Combined electrical power and telecommunication installation support including cable installation, wiring assistance, and equipment handling for both power and telecom installations.

  • Power Option

    Focus on basic electrical power installation support including wiring assistance, cable handling, conduit installation, and general support for electrical power installation work.

A day as a student

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

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Quick entry to electrical workforce with basic skills.Entry-level positions have modest salaries.
Most affordable entry point to electrical trades.Basic skills limit initial job options to support roles.
Foundation for progression to craft, certificate, and EPRA licensing.—

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.

  • 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.

  • National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)

    BursaryKenyan

    Students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Scholarships you could apply for

6 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

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 certificateminimum entry
Alternative entry

KCPE certificate holders are also eligible. No specific subject requirements.

When it next starts

Taught at 186 institutions
January 2027186 institutions

Including Machakos University, Technical University of Kenya, Rongo University.

May 2027186 institutions

Including Machakos University, Technical University of Kenya, Rongo University.

September 2027186 institutions

Including Machakos University, Technical University of Kenya, Rongo University.

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

  • Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority

    NationalRequired

    Mandatory accreditation for all TVET institutions and programmes in Kenya.

  • TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council

    NationalRequired

    Examining and certifying body for competency-based programmes under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF).

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.

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.

  • Cable Carrier

    Moderate demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 40,000

    Handle and transport cables on electrical installation sites.

  • Electrician Mate

    Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 48,000

    Assist electricians with basic tasks on installation sites.

  • Tool Assistant

    Low demandKsh 24,000 to Ksh 38,000

    Manage and organise tools for electrical installation teams.

Graduate outcomes

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

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Artisan electrical is not a real qualification

    It is a TVET-CDACC/NITA certified qualification that provides entry to the electrical profession with clear progression paths.

  • Electrician mates don't need training

    Even basic electrical assistance requires knowledge of safety, tools, and materials — training prevents accidents and improves employability.

  • Artisan graduates are stuck in low-level roles

    Artisan graduates can progress to craft, certificate, and EPRA licensing with further training.

  • Electrical work is too dangerous for artisan-level training

    Safety is the first module taught, and artisan-level work is supervised — it provides safe entry to the trade.

Further reading

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