Hospitality & Tourism

Craft in Catering and Accommodation

The Craft Certificate in Catering and Accommodation is a two-year programme examined by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and offered at technical and vocational training institutions across Kenya. It equips students with skills in food production, food and beverage service, housekeeping, front office operations, and accommodation management. The programme is accredited by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) under the TVET Act, 2013.

Module I covers communication skills, introduction to ICT, entrepreneurship, food and beverage production, food and beverage service and sales, food science and nutrition, mathematics, first aid and home nursing, and practical sessions. Students learn fundamental cooking techniques, food safety, service skills, and nutrition principles.

Module II advances to catering and accommodation control, housekeeping, front office operations, laundry, catering and accommodation premises, business plan, and a research project. Students gain practical experience in housekeeping, room management, and front office procedures alongside catering skills.

The programme combines theory with extensive practical training in kitchen, restaurant, and accommodation settings. Students learn to prepare and serve food, manage housekeeping operations, handle front office duties, and maintain accommodation standards in hotels and lodges.

Entry requirements are a KCSE mean grade of D (plain) or a pass in a relevant Artisan Certificate. The programme is widely available at national polytechnics, technical training institutes, and hospitality colleges across Kenya.

Graduates pursue careers as room attendants, waiters and waitresses, housekeeping assistants, front office assistants, and food production staff in hotels, lodges, restaurants, and catering establishments. The programme provides a progression pathway to a Diploma in Catering and Accommodation Management.

The programme includes compulsory practicum attachments in hospitality establishments. Government-sponsored students placed through KUCCPS receive capitation funding, and HELB loans are available for eligible students. The standardised annual tuition fee at public TVET institutions is KES 67,189.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 71,221
Private, up to: Ksh 63,000
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: 35 students
Award: Certificate

What you study

10 subjects

Food and Beverage Production
Food and Beverage Service and Sales
Housekeeping
Front Office Operations
Catering and Accommodation Control
Food Science and Nutrition
Laundry
Entrepreneurship
Communication Skills
Catering and Accommodation Premises

Modules

10 in the programme

Communication Skills
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Business communication and interpersonal skills for hospitality professionals.
Life Skills
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Personal development, decision-making, and interpersonal skills.
Entrepreneurship and ICT
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Entrepreneurship principles and ICT applications in hospitality operations.
Food and Beverage Production
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Practical and theoretical food production techniques for catering establishments.
Food and Beverage Service and Sales
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Food and beverage service techniques, sales, and customer care.
Food Science and Nutrition
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Food science principles, nutritional requirements, and food safety.
Housekeeping
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Housekeeping operations, room management, and cleanliness standards in accommodation establishments.
Front Office Operations
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Front office procedures, reservations, check-in/check-out, and guest relations.
Laundry
Year 2Semester 12 creditsCore
Laundry operations, fabric care, and linen management in hospitality establishments.
Research Project
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Practical research project applying catering and accommodation competencies.

Specialisations

Food Production
Focus on cooking techniques and kitchen operations.
Housekeeping and Accommodation
Specialisation in housekeeping, laundry, and accommodation management.
Front Office
Focus on guest relations, reservations, and front office management.
Food and Beverage Service
Specialisation in restaurant service and beverage management.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on food science or housekeeping with afternoon practicals in the kitchen, restaurant, and mock hotel rooms, where students practise cooking, service, bed-making, and front office procedures.

The trade offs

In its favour

Combines catering and accommodation skills, making graduates versatile in the hospitality industry.
Low entry requirements make it accessible to a wide range of students.
Highly practical programme with extensive kitchen and accommodation training.

Against it

Entry-level positions may involve long hours and physically demanding work.
Entry-level salaries may be modest until experience is gained.
Requires purchase of chef uniforms and housekeeping equipment as additional costs.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 91 hospitality & tourism courses

Public67k to 71k

67k at Kasarani Technical and Vocational College71k at PC Kinyanjui Technical Training Institute

Private63k to 63k

63k at ICS Technical College63k at ICS 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

Pub 67K-71K/yr (jitimu.com, kenyaeducationguide.com PC Kinyanjui). Pvt ICS 63K/yr (ics.ac.ke).

Government-sponsored students placed through KUCCPS receive capitation funding. HELB loans of up to KES 45,000 per year are available for eligible TVET certificate students.

Funding options

HELB Loan
KUCCPS Government Capitation
County Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB TVET Loan
LoanKsh 45,000Kenyan
Kenyan students placed by KUCCPS in accredited TVET institutions.
KUCCPS Government Capitation
SubsidyKsh 30,000Kenyan
Government-sponsored students placed by KUCCPS receive capitation funding.
County Bursary
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Various county governments offer bursaries for TVET students.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: D
Alternative entry: Pass in a relevant Artisan Certificate in catering or equivalent qualification approved by KNEC.

How you are assessed

3 components

End of Module KNEC Examinations
Written examination50% of the mark
KNEC-administered examinations covering theory and technical knowledge.
Practical Examinations
Practical assessment40% of the mark
KNEC practical examinations assessing cooking, service, and housekeeping competencies.
Research Project
Project10% of the mark
Practical research project demonstrating integrated catering and accommodation competencies.

Accreditation

Examined by KNEC and accredited by TVETA under the TVET Act, 2013. Institutions offering this programme must be registered and accredited by TVETA.

Accredited by

Kenya National Examinations Council
AcademicRequired
Examined by KNEC under course code CCA 1400. Institutions must be TVETA-accredited.
Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority
InstitutionalRequired
All TVET institutions offering this programme must be registered and accredited by TVETA.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Room Attendant
High demandKsh 240,000 to Ksh 360,000
Manages room cleanliness and maintenance in hotels and lodges.
Waiter/Waitress
High demandKsh 240,000 to Ksh 420,000
Serves food and beverages in restaurants, hotels, and catering establishments.
Housekeeping Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 300,000 to Ksh 480,000
Assists the housekeeping supervisor in managing accommodation cleanliness and standards.
Front Office Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 300,000 to Ksh 480,000
Handles guest check-in, reservations, and front office operations in hotels.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates are in high demand as housekeeping assistants, food service staff, and front office assistants in Kenya's growing hospitality industry.

Tools you will learn

Commercial Kitchen Equipment
EquipmentPrimary
Housekeeping Equipment
Equipment
Hotel Management System (PMS)
Software

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Catering and accommodation is just about cooking and cleaning.
The programme covers diverse hospitality skills including food production, beverage service, housekeeping management, front office operations, and accommodation control.
Housekeeping is low-status work.
Housekeeping is a professional department in hospitality, with career progression to housekeeping supervisor and executive housekeeper roles.
The programme limits you to entry-level positions.
Graduates can progress to a Diploma in Catering and Accommodation Management and subsequently to degree-level hospitality qualifications.
Accommodation studies are not important.
Accommodation is a major revenue stream in hospitality, and skilled accommodation professionals are essential for hotel operations.