Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering

This programme prepares students for careers as electrical and electronics engineers, equipping them with engineering expertise to design, develop, and maintain electrical power systems, electronics, telecommunications, control systems, and computer systems. Students develop expertise in electrical engineering, electronics, power systems, and telecommunications. The programme builds skills in engineering mathematics, circuit theory, circuit analysis, DC

circuits, AC circuits, analogue electronics, digital electronics, power electronics, electrical machines, transformers, motors, generators, power systems, power generation, power transmission, power distribution, power system protection, control systems, instrumentation, programmable logic controllers, PLC, automation, robotics, signals and systems, signal processing, telecommunications, communication systems, antennas, microwave engineering, computer systems, microprocessors, microcontrollers, embedded systems, computer networks, VLSI

design, PCB design, renewable energy, solar power, wind power, electrical installation, lighting, electrical safety, engineering drawing, electrical drawing, CAD, workshop technology, soldering, testing and measurement, fault finding, troubleshooting, engineering economics, engineering law, entrepreneurship, safety and occupational health, quality control, and research methods. Graduates apply these skills to work as electrical engineers, electronics engineers, power

systems engineers, control engineers, telecommunications engineers, design engineers, project engineers, maintenance engineers, consulting engineers, and engineering researchers across power companies, the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC), telecommunications companies, manufacturing companies, engineering consulting

firms, government ministries, parastatals, the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK), and as independent engineering consultants in Kenya where electrification is a national priority, renewable energy is expanding, telecommunications is growing, industrialisation is driving automation demand, and the need for qualified electrical and electronics engineers creates demand for engineering professionals. Students examine how electrical engineering

theory, electronics practice, Kenya's power and telecommunications landscape including electrification projects, renewable energy initiatives, grid expansion, and telecom sector growth, the regulatory framework including EBK registration and EPRA regulations, the growing emphasis on electrification, renewable energy, and automation, and the challenges of grid reliability, technology evolution, and equipment costs shape electrical and electronics engineering practice across the country.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 438,000
Private, up to: Ksh 500,000
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

Engineering Mathematics and Circuit Theory
Analogue and Digital Electronics
Electrical Machines and Power Systems
Control Systems, PLC and Automation
Telecommunications and Signal Processing
Microprocessors, Embedded Systems and Computer Networks
Renewable Energy and Power Electronics
Electrical Installation and Safety
Engineering Economics, Law and Entrepreneurship
Electrical Engineering Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Engineering Mathematics and Circuit Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Engineering mathematics, circuit theory, circuit analysis, DC circuits, AC circuits, understanding mathematics, understanding circuits, and supporting circuit analysis.
Analogue and Digital Electronics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Analogue electronics, digital electronics, power electronics, understanding electronics, designing circuits, and supporting electronics engineering.
Electrical Machines and Power Systems
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Electrical machines, transformers, motors, generators, power systems, power generation, power transmission, power distribution, and supporting power engineering.
Control Systems, PLC and Automation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Control systems, instrumentation, PLC, automation, robotics, understanding control, and supporting control and automation engineering.
Telecommunications and Signal Processing
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Telecommunications, communication systems, signal processing, antennas, microwave engineering, understanding telecom, and supporting telecommunications engineering.
Microprocessors, Embedded Systems and Computer Networks
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Microprocessors, microcontrollers, embedded systems, computer networks, VLSI design, understanding microprocessors, and supporting computer systems engineering.
Renewable Energy and Power Electronics
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Renewable energy, solar power, wind power, power electronics, inverters, converters, understanding renewable energy, and supporting renewable energy engineering.
Electrical Installation, Safety and Protection
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Electrical installation, lighting, electrical safety, power system protection, relays, circuit breakers, understanding installation, and supporting safe electrical practice.
Engineering Economics, Law and Entrepreneurship
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Engineering economics, engineering law, contracts, entrepreneurship, understanding economics, understanding law, and supporting engineering economics and law.
Engineering Drawing, CAD and Workshop Technology
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Engineering drawing, electrical drawing, CAD, workshop technology, soldering, PCB design, testing and measurement, fault finding, and supporting practical engineering.
Industrial Attachment
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Supervised industrial attachment at a power company, telecommunications company, manufacturing firm, or engineering consulting firm, applying electrical and electronics engineering skills.
Final Electrical and Electronics Engineering Research Project or Dissertation
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Final year electrical and electronics engineering research project or dissertation, assessed through written report and oral defence.

Specialisations

Renewable Energy Engineering
Concentrates on renewable energy, solar power, wind power, power electronics, inverters, and supporting renewable energy engineering.
Control and Automation Engineering
Concentrates on control systems, PLC, automation, robotics, instrumentation, and supporting industrial automation.
Power Systems Engineering
Focuses on power generation, transmission, distribution, power system protection, and supporting power engineering practice.
Electronics and Embedded Systems
Specialises in analogue and digital electronics, microprocessors, embedded systems, VLSI design, and supporting electronics engineering.
Telecommunications Engineering
Focuses on telecommunications, communication systems, signal processing, antennas, microwave engineering, and supporting telecom engineering.

A day as a student

A typical day starts with a morning lecture on circuit theory, electronics, or power systems, followed by laboratory work, workshop practicals, CAD exercises, or engineering projects. Students work on circuit designs, electronic projects, power system analyses, PLC programmes, microcontroller projects, PCB designs, telecommunications experiments, and engineering research. Laboratory work for circuits and electronics, workshop practicals for electrical installation, CAD exercises for design, and industrial attachment at a power company, telecom, or manufacturing firm provide practical experience.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand — electrification, renewable energy, telecommunications, and industrialisation create strong demand for electrical and electronics engineers.
Excellent salary potential — electrical and electronics engineers are among the highest-paid professionals in Kenya.
Versatile career — graduates can work in power, telecom, manufacturing, consulting, government, research, or entrepreneurship.

Against it

Demanding programme — electrical and electronics engineering requires strong mathematics, physics, and analytical skills with heavy coursework.
Safety risks — electrical work involves high voltage, live circuits, and equipment that require strict safety management.
Long registration process — EBK registration requires years of supervised practice after graduation before full professional status.

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

Public200k to 438k

200k at Technical University of Kenya438k at University of Nairobi

Private500k to 500k

500k at Strathmore University500k at Strathmore 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

TUK ~200K, UoN ~438K/yr. Strathmore ~500K/yr. UoN/TUK fee schedules

Students can access HELB undergraduate loans, Universities Fund government scholarships, and county government bursaries. Some power companies, telecom companies, and renewable energy firms offer scholarships and sponsorships for electrical engineering students.

Funding options

HELB Undergraduate Loan
Universities Fund Government Scholarship
County Government Bursaries

Scholarships

5 recorded

Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) Student Scholarships
ScholarshipKenyan
Student members of IEK pursuing accredited engineering programmes
KCDF More Girls for Engineering Opportunities
ScholarshipKenyan
Young women from disadvantaged backgrounds pursuing engineering
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to accredited universities. Means-tested based on family income.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
GrantKsh 200,000Kenyan
Government-sponsored (KUCCPS) students in public universities. Awarded through the Higher Education Funding Model.
County Government Bursaries
GrantKsh 50,000Kenyan
Students from specific counties. Criteria vary by county.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+ (plus) mean grade at KCSE
Alternative entry: Diploma holders with credit pass in Electrical Engineering, Electronics, or related fields from recognised institutions may join. KNEC diploma holders may be exempted from some modules.

Mathematics
C+ (plus)
Physics
C+ (plus)
Chemistry
C (plain)
English or Kiswahili
C (plain)

How you are assessed

5 components

End of Semester Examinations
Exam40% of the mark
Comprehensive written examinations covering circuit theory, electronics, power systems, control systems, telecommunications, and microprocessors.
Final Electrical and Electronics Engineering Research Project or Dissertation
Research5% of the mark
Final year electrical and electronics engineering research project or dissertation, assessed through written report and oral defence.
Continuous Assessment Tests
Cat30% of the mark
Regular tests, engineering assignments, problem sets, and design exercises throughout the semester.
Industrial Attachment Report
Practicum5% of the mark
Assessment of industrial attachment at a power company, telecom, or manufacturing firm. Includes logbook, supervisor evaluation, and written report.
Project / Practical Assessment
Practicum20% of the mark
Assessment of circuit designs, electronic projects, power system analyses, PLC programmes, microcontroller projects, PCB designs, and telecom experiments.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). EBK registration is mandatory for professional engineering practice. EPRA licensing is required for electrical power work. The programme must meet EBK curriculum standards for graduate registration.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
NationalRequired
CUE accredits all university programmes in Kenya. EBK registration is mandatory for professional engineering practice. EPRA licensing is required for electrical power work. The programme must meet EBK curriculum standards for graduate registration.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Electrical Engineer / Power Systems Engineer
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 300,000
Designs electrical systems, manages power projects, ensures grid reliability, and supports power generation, transmission, and distribution.
Telecommunications Engineer
Medium demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 350,000
Designs telecom systems, manages networks, supports communication infrastructure, and supports telecommunications engineering.
Electronics Engineer / Design Engineer
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 300,000
Designs electronic systems, develops products, tests circuits, and supports electronics engineering practice.
Engineering Researcher / Consultant
Medium demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 400,000
Conducts engineering research, provides consulting services, advises on electrical systems, and supports engineering innovation.
Control and Automation Engineer
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 350,000
Designs control systems, programmes PLCs, implements automation, and supports industrial automation and robotics.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as electrical engineers, electronics engineers, and power systems engineers. Electrical and electronics engineering is in high demand driven by electrification, renewable energy, and telecommunications. Starting salaries range from KES 70,000 to 120,000 per month, with experienced engineers and managers earning KES 150,000 to 500,000. Power companies, KPLC, KenGen, EPRA, REREC, telecommunications companies, manufacturing companies, and consulting firms offer the main opportunities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

MATLAB
Engineering softwarePrimary
Signal processing and communication simulation.
Atoll
Network planning
Radio network planning and optimisation.
Wireshark
Network analysis
Network protocol analysis.
Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
AutoCAD
DesignPrimary

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Electrical engineering is just about wiring and electrical installation.
This programme covers circuit theory, electronics, power systems, control systems, telecommunications, microprocessors, embedded systems, renewable energy, and automation. It's a comprehensive engineering discipline.
Electrical engineers only work for power companies.
Electrical engineers work in power, telecommunications, manufacturing, consulting, government, research, and academia. Many work in electronics, automation, and embedded systems.
Electrical engineering has limited opportunities in Kenya.
Electrification, renewable energy, telecommunications, and industrialisation create strong demand for electrical and electronics engineers in Kenya.
This programme has limited career opportunities.
Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.