Business

Bachelor in Supply Chain and Logistics Management

The Bachelor in Supply Chain and Logistics Management equips students with knowledge and skills to manage procurement, warehousing, transportation, and distribution of goods. The curriculum covers supply chain strategy, procurement principles, logistics operations, inventory management, contract management, and international trade.

Students study principles of purchasing and supply, procurement administration, inventory management, supply chain management, operations management, transportation and fleet management, legal issues in procurement, e-procurement, and global logistics.

Kenya is a regional trade hub with Mombasa port serving as East Africa's gateway. The Northern Corridor connects Kenya to Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi, creating significant logistics demand. Manufacturing, retail, FMCG, and humanitarian sectors require skilled supply chain professionals.

The programme is delivered through lectures, case studies, practical assignments, industrial attachment, and research projects. Students use ERP systems and supply chain software to simulate real-world operations. Most universities offer the programme full-time over four academic years, with industrial attachment in procurement or logistics departments.

Graduates find employment as procurement officers, logistics coordinators, inventory analysts, supply chain officers, warehouse controllers, and transport managers in manufacturing companies, retail chains, NGOs, government agencies, and logistics firms.

This programme suits students with strong analytical skills, attention to detail, negotiation ability, and commercial awareness. Prospective students should enjoy working with data, managing processes, and coordinating complex operations. The supply chain field requires integrity, problem-solving, and the ability to work under pressure. Students who thrive combine numerical proficiency with communication skills.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 220,150
Private, up to: Ksh 188,700
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 50 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Principles of Purchasing and Supply
Procurement Administration
Inventory Management
Supply Chain Management
Operations Management
Transportation and Fleet Management
Legal Issues in Procurement
E-Procurement
Global Logistics Management
Contract Management

Modules

10 in the programme

Principles of Purchasing and Supply
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts of purchasing, supply management, and the role of procurement in organisations.
Introduction to Accounting
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Basic accounting principles and their application in procurement and supply chain contexts.
Procurement Administration
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Administrative processes in procurement including requisitioning, ordering, and supplier management.
Inventory Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Stock control, material requirements planning, and inventory optimisation techniques.
Supply Chain Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
End-to-end supply chain strategy, design, and coordination across suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors.
Operations Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Management of production and service operations, process improvement, and quality management.
Legal Issues in Procurement
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Legal framework governing procurement including contract law, public procurement regulations, and dispute resolution.
Transportation and Fleet Management
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Transportation systems, fleet operations, route planning, and distribution network management.
E-Procurement and Global Logistics
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Digital procurement platforms, international logistics, customs procedures, and global supply chain management.
Research Project in Supply Chain
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Final-year research project on a supply chain or logistics management topic, assessed through a written dissertation.

Specialisations

Procurement and Purchasing
Sourcing, supplier management, tendering, contract negotiation, and procurement compliance. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Logistics and Transportation
Freight management, fleet operations, transportation planning, and distribution network design. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Warehouse and Inventory Management
Warehouse operations, stock control, materials handling, and inventory optimisation. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
International Supply Chain
Global logistics, international trade, customs management, and cross-border supply chain operations.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures on procurement principles, supply chain strategy, and logistics operations. Students participate in case studies analysing real supply chain scenarios, work with ERP software to simulate inventory and procurement processes, and engage in negotiation exercises. Group projects on supply chain design and logistics optimisation develop practical skills. Industrial attachment provides hands-on experience in procurement or logistics departments.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's position as East Africa's trade hub creates strong demand for supply chain professionals
Diverse career paths across manufacturing, retail, NGOs, government, and logistics
Professional certifications like CPSP-K and CIPS significantly boost earning potential

Against it

Entry-level salaries are modest until professional certification is achieved
High responsibility for organisational spending requires integrity and accountability
Procurement roles in government face scrutiny and anti-corruption pressures
Keeping up with evolving procurement regulations and technology requires continuous learning

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 331 business courses

Public184k to 220k

184k at Kenyatta University220k at University of Nairobi

Private105k to 189k

105k at Mount Kenya University189k at Kabarak University

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

KU B.Com 184K, UoN B.Com 220K/yr (KUCCPS). Kabarak 189K (PDF), MKU 105K/yr (KUCCPS).

Government scholarships under the New Higher Education Funding Model cover 53–82% of programme cost for needy students in public universities. HELB provides undergraduate loans up to KES 60,000 per year. County bursaries and NGAAF provide additional support. KISM offers limited professional development bursaries for student members.

Funding options

HELB Undergraduate Loan
Government Scholarship (New Funding Model)
County Bursary

Scholarships

4 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in CUE-accredited undergraduate programmes at recognised institutions.
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties pursuing undergraduate studies
Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) Training Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Students in geospatial sciences, GIS and remote sensing
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
Needy students placed by KUCCPS in public universities, assessed through Means Testing Instrument.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Diploma in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or related field from a recognised institution. KUCCPS Cluster 2.

How you are assessed

4 components

End of Semester Examinations
Exam50% of the mark
Written examinations covering theoretical and applied aspects of each module.
Continuous Assessment Tests and Assignments
Cat30% of the mark
Regular tests, case study analyses, assignments, and class participation throughout the semester.
Industrial Attachment Report
Practicum10% of the mark
Three-month attachment in a procurement or logistics department, assessed through supervisor evaluation and written report.
Research Project
Project10% of the mark
Final-year dissertation on a supply chain or logistics management topic.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at Mount Kenya University, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University, Chuka University, Multimedia University, Meru University, Maseno University, KCA University, and other CUE-accredited institutions. Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with C in Mathematics. KUCCPS Cluster 2.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Programme accreditationRequired
CUE accredits all university programmes in Kenya. All listed universities offering this programme are CUE-accredited.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Procurement Officer
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 70,000
Manages sourcing, tendering, supplier relationships, and procurement compliance for organisations.
Logistics Coordinator
High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 60,000
Coordinates transportation, warehousing, and distribution operations for logistics companies and manufacturers.
Inventory Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 55,000
Monitors stock levels, analyses inventory data, and optimises stock holding for retail and manufacturing firms.
Supply Chain Officer
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 65,000
Supports end-to-end supply chain operations including planning, procurement, and logistics coordination.
Warehouse Controller
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 50,000
Manages warehouse operations, stock receipt, storage, dispatch, and warehouse staff supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as procurement officers, logistics coordinators, inventory analysts, supply chain officers, and warehouse controllers in manufacturing, retail, NGOs, government, and logistics firms. Starting salaries range from KES 35,000–60,000 per month.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SAP ERP
ErpPrimary
Enterprise resource planning for supply chain management
Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
Supply chain data analysis and inventory management
Oracle ERP
Erp
Enterprise resource planning for logistics operations
Power BI
Data visualization
Supply chain analytics and dashboards
QuickBooks
Accounting
Procurement and inventory accounting
Microsoft Project
Project management
Logistics project planning and management

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Supply chain management is just about buying things.
The field encompasses procurement, logistics, warehousing, transportation, inventory optimisation, contract management, and strategic supply chain design across global networks.
Procurement is a low-level administrative function.
Procurement is a strategic function managing organisational spending, supplier relationships, and risk, with senior roles commanding significant salaries.
Supply chain jobs are only in manufacturing.
Supply chain professionals work in retail, healthcare, NGOs, government, FMCG, e-commerce, consulting, and logistics service providers.
A degree alone is enough for career progression.
Professional certifications like CPSP-K, CIPS, and CILT significantly enhance career prospects and earning potential in supply chain management.