Engineering

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.

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.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 67,189
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 2 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Certificate

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 favour

Practical installation skills for immediate employment in construction.
High demand from construction and electrical contracting sectors.
Foundation for progression to certificate, EPRA licensing, and diploma.

Against it

Installation work can be physically demanding.
Less theoretical foundation than full certificate programmes.

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.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: KCSE Mean Grade D (Plain)
Alternative entry: Artisan Certificate in a relevant field or equivalent qualification.

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

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.

Accredited by

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.

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.