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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.

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 4 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 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.

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 favourAgainst it
Practical telecom skills for immediate employment in network deployment.Field work may involve climbing towers and working at heights.
Kenya's expanding telecom infrastructure creates ongoing demand.Less theoretical foundation than full certificate programmes.
Foundation for progression to certificate and diploma in telecommunication.—

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.

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 4 institutions
January 20274 institutions

Including Kabete National Polytechnic, Kenya Coast Polytechnic, Mukiria Technical Training Institute.

May 20274 institutions

Including Kabete National Polytechnic, Kenya Coast Polytechnic, Mukiria Technical Training Institute.

September 20274 institutions

Including Kabete National Polytechnic, Kenya Coast Polytechnic, Mukiria Technical Training Institute.

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

  • 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).

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

  • 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.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Craft telecommunication is not a real qualification

    It is a TVET-CDACC certified competency-based qualification recognised by telecom companies for installation support roles.

  • Telecom installation is just running cables

    Professional telecom installation involves equipment mounting, cable termination, testing, and safety procedures — all requiring formal training.

  • Craft graduates cannot advance in telecom

    Craft graduates can progress to certificate, diploma, and degree programmes in telecommunication engineering.

  • Wireless networks don't need cable installers

    Wireless base stations require fibre backhaul and power cables — wireless expansion actually increases cable installation demand.

Further reading

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