Business

Bachelor of Procurement

The Bachelor of Procurement is a four-year programme that prepares students for procurement and supply operations, purchasing management and supplier relations. Students study procurement principles, supply chain management, purchasing, inventory management, negotiation and contract management. The programme provides practical and strategic skills for procurement roles in public and private sectors.

Students develop competencies in procurement planning, sourcing, supplier evaluation, tendering, contract management, logistics coordination and inventory control. They learn to manage procurement processes, ensure value for money, maintain ethical standards and support organisational supply chain operations. The programme covers procurement, purchasing, logistics, inventory and supply chain fundamentals.

In Kenya, procurement is a critical function in government, private companies and non-profit organisations. The Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act and county government procurement create demand for qualified procurement professionals. Mount Kenya University and other institutions offer this programme. Graduates find roles in procurement departments, supply chain firms, government agencies, NGOs and private companies.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, case studies, practical exercises, industrial attachment and research projects. Students analyse tender documents, develop procurement plans, evaluate suppliers and undertake industrial attachment. The programme includes a final-year research project.

Graduates pursue careers as procurement officers, purchasing managers, supply chain coordinators, tender specialists and contract administrators. Some work for government procurement entities. Others join private companies, manufacturing, retail or international organisations.

This programme is ideal for individuals with analytical skills, negotiation ability and interest in supply chain and procurement management.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 216,000
Private, up to: Ksh 248,900
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 40 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Principles of Procurement and Purchasing
Supply Chain Management
Inventory and Warehousing Management
Tendering and Contract Management
Supplier Relationship Management
Public Procurement and Legal Framework
Negotiation and Dispute Resolution
Procurement Planning and Strategy
Logistics and Distribution
Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Procurement and Supply Chain
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduction to Procurement and Supply Chain: Procurement principles, supply chain overview and purchasing processes Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant sk...
Principles of Procurement and Purchasing
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Sourcing, buying, procurement cycle and value for money. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests...
Inventory and Warehousing Management
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Inventory and Warehousing Management: Inventory control, warehousing, stock management and material handling Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Tendering and Contract Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Tendering and Contract Management: Tender processes, contract drafting, administration and disputes Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Supplier Relationship Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Supplier Relationship Management: Supplier evaluation, performance management and strategic partnerships Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Public Procurement and Legal Framework
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Public Procurement and Legal Framework: Public procurement law, regulations, ethics and compliance in Kenya Examines statutory frameworks, case law, and regulatory compliance in the Kenyan context.
Negotiation and Dispute Resolution
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Negotiation and Dispute Resolution: Negotiation strategies, conflict management and dispute resolution Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Logistics and Distribution
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Logistics and Distribution: Transportation, distribution, logistics networks and delivery management Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Procurement Planning and Strategy
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Procurement Planning and Strategy: Strategic procurement, category management and procurement planning Covers planning theory, regulatory frameworks, and sustainable development practices.
E-Procurement and Technology
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
E-Procurement and Technology: Electronic procurement systems, technology and digital procurement Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Procurement Ethics and Governance
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Procurement Ethics and Governance: Ethics, governance, anti-corruption and accountability in procurement Encourages critical thinking about moral dilemmas and professional responsibility.
Final Year Research Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Final Year Research Project: Independent research on procurement and supply chain management Involves independent research, data analysis, and scholarly writing under supervision.

Specialisations

Tendering and Bidding
Specialization in Tendering and Bidding, preparing graduates for careers such as procurement-manager.
Public Procurement
Specialization in Public Procurement, preparing graduates for careers such as procurement-manager. 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.
Supply Chain Management
Specialization in Supply Chain Management, preparing graduates for careers such as supply-chain-management.
Contract Management
Specialization in Contract Management, preparing graduates for careers such as procurement-manager. 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.
Private Sector Procurement
Specialization in Private Sector Procurement, preparing graduates for careers such as procurement-manager.
Logistics and Inventory
Specialization in Logistics and Inventory, preparing graduates for careers such as logistics-manager.

A day as a student

A typical day combines lectures on procurement and supply chain with case studies or practical exercises. Students may analyse tenders, evaluate suppliers, prepare procurement plans or work on logistics projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for procurement professionals in Kenya
Diverse career opportunities across sectors
Relevant to Kenya's public and private procurement
Practical and career-focused training

Against it

Procurement roles can be politically sensitive in public sector
Some roles require professional certifications like CIPS
Entry-level salaries may be modest
Requires strong analytical and negotiation skills

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 216k

184k at Kenyatta University216k at University of Nairobi

Private105k to 249k

105k at Mount Kenya University249k at KCA 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 183.6K, UoN 216K/yr pub. MKU 105K, KCA ~249K/yr priv. Src: uonbi.ac.ke, mku.ac.ke, kcau.ac.ke

Students may access HELB loans and county bursaries. Some companies offer internship stipends for procurement students.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
LoanKsh 60,000
National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
Bursary
County Government Bursaries
Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

English or Kiswahili
C+
Mathematics A/B or any Group II
C
Any Group III, IV or V subject
C+
Any Group III, IV or V subject
C+

How you are assessed

4 components

Case Studies and Practical Exercises
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework20% of the mark
Final Examination
Coursework40% of the mark
Industrial Attachment Report
Coursework10% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
InstitutionalRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Procurement Officer
High demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 180,000
Manages procurement processes and purchases
Contract Administrator
High demandKsh 65,000 to Ksh 230,000
Administers procurement contracts and agreements
Supply Chain Coordinator
High demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 220,000
Coordinates supply chain and logistics activities
Purchasing Manager
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Leads purchasing and supplier management
Tender Specialist
High demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 220,000
Prepares and evaluates tenders and bids

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as procurement officers, purchasing managers, supply chain coordinators, tender specialists and contract administrators in procurement departments, supply chain firms, government agencies, NGOs and private companies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SAP FICO
ErpPrimary
SAP financial and controlling module.
QuickBooks Enterprise
Accounting
Advanced accounting for SMEs.
Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
Financial modelling and analysis.
SAP ERP
ErpPrimary
Oracle ERP
Erp

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Procurement is just about buying things
Procurement includes strategy, supplier management, risk, negotiation and contract management.
Procurement jobs are only in government
Procurement professionals work in private companies, NGOs, manufacturing, retail and international organisations.
You don't need a degree for procurement
Professional procurement management requires training in law, finance, supply chain and negotiation.
Procurement is the same as purchasing
Procurement is strategic and includes sourcing, contracts, supplier management and value creation.