Technology

Craft in Telecommunication

The Craft Certificate in Telecommunication is a KNEC Craft Certificate programme that trains students in telecommunication cable installation, equipment mounting, and site support skills. The course is examined by KNEC and offered across accredited TVET institutions in Kenya. Students learn cable termination, cable installation, equipment handling, site preparation, tool usage, and telecommunication safety.

The curriculum covers communication skills, mathematics, science, technical drawing, information communication technology, entrepreneurship, and occupational safety. Core units include basic cable termination, workplace safety and practices, basic equipment handling, cable installation, site preparation, tool usage, simple testing, equipment mounting, and industrial attachment in a telecommunication company or installation site.

Kenya's telecommunications sector expansion, including fibre optic networks, mobile infrastructure, and broadband rollout, creates demand for certified telecommunication personnel. Telecom companies, network installation firms, and infrastructure contractors require trained technicians for cable installation, equipment mounting, and site support operations.

Training combines classroom theory with practical sessions in workshop and field environments. Students practice cable termination, installation, equipment mounting, site preparation, and testing under supervised conditions. The programme includes industrial attachment with telecom companies or on installation sites where students apply their skills in real telecommunication environments.

Graduates work as telecommunication installation assistants, cable installation technicians, equipment mounting assistants, site preparation assistants, and telecom support technicians in telecom companies, network installation firms, and infrastructure contractors. The qualification provides a foundation for progression to Diploma in Telecommunication Engineering for specialised telecom engineering and network management roles.

This programme is suitable for KCSE graduates with a mean grade of D (plain) who are interested in telecommunications and installation and seeking technical positions in the telecommunication infrastructure and network installation 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: 25 students
Award: Certificate

What you study

8 subjects

Cable Installation
Equipment Mounting
Basic Cable Termination
Simple Testing
Tool Usage
Site Preparation
Telecommunication Safety
Basic Equipment Handling

Modules

8 in the programme

Workplace Safety and Practices
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Telecommunication site safety, working at heights, and electrical safety including PPE and safe working procedures for telecom sites.
Cable Installation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Installing telecommunication cables including copper and fibre cable laying, routing, securing, and basic cable installation procedures.
Equipment Mounting
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Mounting telecommunication equipment on towers, walls, and racks including bracket installation, bolting, and equipment securing.
Basic Cable Termination
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Terminating cables with connectors and basic splicing including crimping, soldering, and connector fitting for telecom cables.
Simple Testing
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Basic continuity testing and signal verification including multimeter use, cable testing, and simple connection verification.
Tool Usage
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Using hand tools and specialised telecom tools safely including crimping tools, cable strippers, and testing equipment for installations.
Site Preparation
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Preparing telecommunication sites for equipment installation including site clearance, cable routing, and basic site setup.
Basic Equipment Handling
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Handling telecommunication equipment safely and correctly including unpacking, mounting preparation, and equipment transport.

Specialisations

Fibre Cable Support
Specialisation in assisting with fibre optic cable installation including cable handling, routing, and basic fibre preparation.
Equipment Mounting
Specialisation in mounting telecom equipment on structures including antenna installation, bracket fitting, and equipment securing.
Site Preparation
Focus on preparing sites for telecommunication installation including site clearance, cable routing, and basic site setup.
Cable Installation
Focus on telecommunication cable installation and routing including copper and fibre cable laying, termination, and testing.

A day as a student

Students spend most of their time in workshops and field sites installing cables, mounting equipment, terminating connections, and using hand tools. Theory sessions cover basic telecommunication concepts and safety procedures.

The trade offs

In its favour

Practical telecom skills for immediate employment in network deployment.
Kenya's expanding telecom infrastructure creates ongoing demand.
Foundation for progression to certificate and diploma in telecommunication.

Against it

Field work may involve climbing towers and working at heights.
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 191 technology courses

Public67k to 67k

67k at Maasai Mara Technical and Vocational College67k at Kiambu 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 (jitimu.com Maasai Mara, institutiontoday.com). Pvt: 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

HELB TVET Loans
LoanKenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions, based on financial need.
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties, targeting vulnerable learners.
TVET Funding
Government fundingKenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions, based on financial need.
National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
BursaryKenyan
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

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 cable installation and equipment mounting projects.
Theory Assessment
Test20% of the mark
Written assessment of supporting telecommunication knowledge.
Competency-Based Practical Assessment
Practicum50% of the mark
TVET-CDACC competency assessment of practical telecommunication 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

Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority
NationalRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all TVET institutions and programmes in Kenya.
TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council
NationalRequired
Examining and certifying body for competency-based programmes under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF).

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Equipment Mounting Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 39,000 to Ksh 67,000
Assist with mounting telecommunication equipment on towers and structures.
Telecom Installation Assistant
High demandKsh 42,000 to Ksh 75,000
Support installation of telecommunication equipment and infrastructure.
Cable Installation Helper
High demandKsh 38,000 to Ksh 68,000
Assist with telecommunication cable installation and routing.
Site Support Technician
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 70,000
Support telecom site preparation, equipment mounting, and basic testing.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as telecom installation assistants and cable installation helpers in telecom companies and network deployment projects across Kenya.