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Craft in Electrical Installation

The Craft Certificate in Electrical Installation is a KNEC Craft Certificate programme that trains students in electrical installation, wiring, and maintenance skills. The course is examined by KNEC and offered across accredited TVET institutions in Kenya. Students learn circuit installation, cable preparation, conduit installation, electrical safety, testing, and workshop practices.

Duration
2 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 67,189
Ksh 134,378 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 67,189 a year at a public institution, Ksh 134,378 for the whole course.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of KCSE Mean Grade D (Plain) or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 2 years, full-time, with 2 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 communication skills, mathematics, science, technical drawing, information communication technology, entrepreneurship, and occupational safety. Core units include simple circuit installation, electrical safety, cable preparation and termination, installation support, basic testing, conduit bending and installation, practical wiring, workshop safety, tool usage, and industrial attachment in an electrical installation company or workshop.

Kenya's construction sector and electrification programmes create demand for certified electrical installation personnel. Electrical contractors, construction companies, maintenance departments, and power distribution projects require trained technicians for installation, wiring, and maintenance of electrical systems.

Training combines classroom theory with practical sessions in electrical workshop environments. Students practice circuit installation, cable termination, conduit bending, wiring, testing, and tool usage under supervised conditions. The programme includes industrial attachment with electrical contractors or in installation projects where students apply their skills in real electrical environments.

Graduates work as electrical installation technicians, wiring technicians, conduit installation specialists, cable preparation technicians, and maintenance assistants for electrical contractors, construction companies, and maintenance departments. The qualification provides a foundation for progression to Diploma in Electrical Engineering for specialised electrical engineering and installation management roles.

This programme is suitable for KCSE graduates with a mean grade of D (plain) who are interested in electrical work and installation and seeking technical positions in the electrical installation and wiring sector.

What you study

8 subjects
  • Practical Wiring
  • Conduit Bending and Installation
  • Cable Preparation and Termination
  • Simple Circuit Installation
  • Basic Testing
  • Tool Usage
  • Electrical Safety
  • Installation Support

Modules

9 in the programme

  • Workshop Safety

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Electrical safety, PPE, and safe workshop practices including tool safety, fire safety, and hazard prevention in electrical workshops.

  • Practical Wiring

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Hands-on wiring of basic circuits and installations including lighting circuits, socket outlets, and switch wiring for electrical work.

  • Conduit Bending and Installation

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Cutting, bending, and installing electrical conduits including conduit threading, fitting, and mounting for wiring installations.

  • Cable Preparation and Termination

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Stripping, preparing, and terminating electrical cables including crimping, soldering, and connector fitting for installations.

  • Simple Circuit Installation

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Installing lighting, socket, and basic electrical circuits including wiring, connections, and circuit testing for domestic installations.

  • Basic Testing

    Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

    Using multimeters and basic testing of installations including continuity testing, voltage measurement, and insulation checking.

  • Tool Usage

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Using hand tools and power tools for electrical work including screwdrivers, pliers, drills, and strippers for installation tasks.

  • Electrical Safety

    Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

    Basic electrical safety rules and safe working practices including shock prevention, isolation procedures, and electrical hazard awareness.

  • Installation Support

    Year 3Semester 36 creditsCore

    Supporting installation teams with materials handling, site preparation, cable routing, and routine assistance during electrical installation work.

Specialisations

  • Domestic Wiring

    Focus on residential wiring and basic installation including lighting circuits, socket outlets, and domestic electrical installations.

  • Installation Maintenance

    Specialisation in assisting with installation maintenance including inspection, testing, and basic repair of electrical installations.

  • Conduit Installation

    Specialisation in conduit bending and installation including cutting, threading, bending, and mounting conduits for electrical wiring.

  • Cable Preparation

    Focus on cable termination and preparation tasks including stripping, crimping, and connecting electrical cables for installations.

A day as a student

Students spend virtually all their time in workshops wiring circuits, bending conduits, terminating cables, and using hand tools. The focus is on building practical installation skills through repetitive hands-on practice.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Practical installation skills for immediate employment in construction.Installation work can be physically demanding.
High demand from construction and electrical contracting sectors.Less theoretical foundation than full certificate programmes.
Foundation for progression to certificate, EPRA licensing, and diploma.—

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 Kenya Coast National Polytechnic67k at Kenya Coast National Polytechnic

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

Public TVET 67K/yr (kenyacoastpoly.ac.ke). Private: unverified.

TVET government funding and HELB loans are available for eligible students.

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.

  • National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)

    BursaryKenyan

    Students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

  • County Government Bursaries

    BursaryKenyan

    Residents of respective counties, targeting vulnerable learners.

Scholarships you could apply for

1 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 (Plain)minimum entry
Alternative entry

Artisan Certificate in a relevant field or equivalent qualification.

When it next starts

Taught at 186 institutions
January 2027186 institutions

Including Endebess Technical Training Institute Trans Nzoia County, Kiminini Technical And Vocational College Trans Nzoia County, Gichugu Technical and Vocational College.

May 2027186 institutions

Including Endebess Technical Training Institute Trans Nzoia County, Kiminini Technical And Vocational College Trans Nzoia County, Gichugu Technical and Vocational College.

September 2027186 institutions

Including Endebess Technical Training Institute Trans Nzoia County, Kiminini Technical And Vocational College Trans Nzoia County, Gichugu Technical and Vocational College.

How you are assessed

3 components

  • Installation Projects

    Project30% of the mark

    Completion of wiring and conduit installation projects.

  • Theory Assessment

    Test20% of the mark

    Written assessment of supporting installation knowledge.

  • Competency-Based Practical Assessment

    Practicum50% of the mark

    TVET-CDACC competency assessment of practical installation skills.

Accreditation

  • TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council

    NationalRequired

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

  • Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority

    NationalRequired

    Mandatory accreditation for all TVET institutions and programmes in Kenya.

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

  • Wiring Assistant

    High demandKsh 38,000 to Ksh 65,000

    Assist electricians with wiring, cable pulling, and installation tasks.

  • Installation Helper

    High demandKsh 36,000 to Ksh 60,000

    Support electrical installation teams with conduit, cabling, and fittings.

  • Cable Preparer

    Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 58,000

    Prepare and terminate cables for electrical installations.

  • Maintenance Assistant

    Moderate demandKsh 37,000 to Ksh 62,000

    Assist with maintenance of electrical installations in buildings.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as wiring assistants and installation helpers in construction and electrical contracting across Kenya.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Craft electrical installation is not a real qualification

    It is a TVET-CDACC/NITA certified qualification that provides practical skills for electrical installation support roles.

  • Anyone can do electrical wiring without training

    Even assistant-level electrical work requires knowledge of safety, tools, and basic installation procedures — training prevents accidents.

  • Craft graduates cannot become licensed electricians

    Craft graduates can progress to certificate, EPRA licensing, and diploma programmes in electrical installation.

  • Electrical installation is only for new construction

    Existing buildings require ongoing maintenance, upgrades, and renovations — creating continuous demand for installation skills.

Further reading

Read next