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Agriculture

Diploma in Animal Health and Production

The Diploma in Animal Health and Production is a degree programme that equips students with knowledge and skills in diploma in animal health and production. The programme falls under the Agriculture & Environment category and typically spans 3 years of full-time study at accredited Kenyan universities.

Duration
3 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 98,000
Ksh 294,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 103,650
Ksh 310,950 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 98,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 294,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 103,650 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of KCSE mean grade C- (Minus) or above, plus 3 subject grades. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 3 years, full-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 18 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Aquaculture Technologist, at 3 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

The curriculum covers Animal Anatomy, Pharmacology, Animal Nutrition, Disease Control, Breeding, Pasture Management. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and practical applications, developing competencies in Agricultural Entrepreneurship, Agricultural Extension, Agricultural Mechanization, Agricultural Policy, Animal Breeding and Genetics. The coursework is designed to build progressive understanding from foundational concepts to advanced topics.

Throughout the programme, students study Poultry Production, Pasture and Fodder Production, Pharmacology, Animal Breeding, Meat Inspection. The teaching approach combines lectures, laboratory practicals, tutorials, assignments and independent research projects. This blend ensures graduates can apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems in their field.

The programme offers specialisations in Dairy Health, Meat Inspection, Poultry Health. Students can focus their studies on areas of particular interest, allowing them to tailor their degree to specific career goals. The flexibility enables graduates to pursue diverse professional paths within the sector.

Graduates of the Diploma in Animal Health and Production pursue careers as Animal Health Assistant, Farm Manager, Agro-Vet Operator, Meat Inspector. They find employment in various sectors including government agencies, private companies, research institutions, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions. The degree opens doors to both local and international opportunities.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and offered at recognised universities across Kenya. Students benefit from industry attachments, fieldwork and practical training that complement classroom learning and enhance employability upon graduation.

What you study

6 subjects
  • Animal Anatomy
  • Pharmacology
  • Animal Nutrition
  • Disease Control
  • Breeding
  • Pasture Management

Modules

10 in the programme

  • Animal Anatomy and Physiology

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Structure and function of animal bodies, including organ systems and metabolism.

  • Veterinary Microbiology

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Study of bacteria, viruses, and parasites causing disease for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Pharmacology

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Use and dosage of veterinary drugs, including administration routes and for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Animal Nutrition

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Feed formulation and dietary requirements for different livestock species for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Animal Breeding

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Genetics and artificial insemination, including breed selection and for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Pasture and Fodder Production

    Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

    Establishing and managing livestock feeds, including pasture and fodder for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Disease Control

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Vaccination, quarantine, and biosecurity measures for preventing livestock for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Clinical Medicine

    Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

    Diagnosis and treatment of sick animals, including clinical examination and for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Meat Inspection

    Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore

    Ensuring the safety of meat for consumption, including ante-mortem and for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Poultry Production

    Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore

    Management of commercial poultry operations, including brooding for professional practice and competency development in the field.

Specialisations

  • Poultry Health

    Management of poultry diseases, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards, regulatory requirements, and professional best practices.

  • Pharmacy

    Managing veterinary drug stores, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards, regulatory requirements, and professional best practices.

  • Dairy Health

    Focus on health and production of dairy cows, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards, regulatory requirements, and professional best practices.

  • Artificial Insemination

    Specialisation in artificial insemination covering fundamental principles, practical techniques, and industry applications within the Kenyan context, with emphasis on compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.

  • Meat Inspection

    Ensuring safety in abattoirs, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards, regulatory requirements, and professional best practices.

A day as a student

The day starts with clinical practicals in the college veterinary lab—handling animals and drawing blood—followed by afternoon lectures on pharmacology and animal nutrition.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Highly marketable skills with demand across all counties.Risk of injury from handling large or frightened animals.
Strong entrepreneurial opportunities via agro-vets and AI services.Exposure to zoonotic diseases if safety protocols fail.
Meaningful contribution to food security and disease prevention.Working hours can be irregular, especially during disease outbreaks.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 303 agriculture courses
Public70k to 98k
70k at AHITI Kabete98k at Kenyatta University
Private66k to 104k
66k at Musketeers Institute of Science and Technology104k at Mount Kenya University

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

AHITI 70K, KU 98K/yr pub. MIST 66K, MKU 104K/yr priv (ahitikabete.co.ke, mku.ac.ke)

HELB and county bursaries are available. Some pharmaceutical companies offer bursaries to students in animal health.

Funding options

  • HELB TVET Loan

  • NG-CDF Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • HELB TVET/Diploma Loan

    LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan

    Registered students.

  • County Government Bursaries

    BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan

    County youth.

  • NG-CDF Bursary

    BursaryKsh 15,000Kenyan

    Needy students.

Scholarships you could apply for

12 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 C- (Minus)minimum entry
Alternative entry

Certificate in Animal Health or Agriculture.

Subject requirements
BiologyC-
ChemistryD
MathematicsD

When it next starts

Taught at 18 institutions
January 202718 institutions

Including Tharaka University, Maseno University, Meru University of Science and Technology.

May 202718 institutions

Including Tharaka University, Maseno University, Meru University of Science and Technology.

September 202718 institutions

Including Tharaka University, Maseno University, Meru University of Science and Technology.

How you are assessed

5 components

  • Final KNEC Exam

    Exam30% of the mark

    National certification exam.

  • Continuous Assessment Tests

    Cat20% of the mark

    Theory tests throughout the term.

  • Farm Project

    Project10% of the mark

    Formulating a herd health program for a specific farm.

  • Clinical Practicals

    Practicum30% of the mark

    Handling animals, drawing blood, and administering drugs.

  • Attachment Logbook

    Cat10% of the mark

    Assessment of clinical attachment.

Accreditation

  • Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority

    NationalRequired

    Accredits the training institutions.

  • Kenya Veterinary Board

    ProfessionalRequired

    Licenses the graduates to practice as animal health technicians.

Accredited by TVETA and regulated by the Kenya Veterinary Board (KVB) for practice.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

  • Animal Health Assistant

    High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 70,000

    Provides preventive and curative care to livestock.

  • Farm Manager

    Medium demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 80,000

    Manages the health and production of commercial livestock farms.

  • Agro-Vet Operator

    High demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 90,000

    Runs a business selling veterinary drugs and feeds.

  • Meat Inspector

    Medium demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 70,000

    Inspects slaughterhouses to ensure food safety.

  • Artificial Insemination Tech

    High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 65,000

    Offers breeding services to dairy farmers.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates are highly demanded as animal health assistants, artificial insemination technicians, or farm managers. They work with county governments, private veterinary clinics, and NGOs.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • Microsoft Excel

    Data analysisPrimary

  • R

    Analytics

  • QGIS

    AnalyticsPrimary

  • Python

    Code

  • Google Earth Engine

    Cloud

  • Tableau

    Analytics

  • Google Earth

    Engineering

  • QuickBooks

    Accounting

Common misconceptions

  • Animal health assistants are just vet doctors' helpers.

    They are licensed professionals who can diagnose and treat common livestock diseases independently.

  • Graduates of this programme end up unemployed in Kenya.

    Kenya's expanding sectors create steady demand for diploma holders, with opportunities in county governments, private companies, and self-employment.

Further reading

Read next