Diploma in Catering and Accommodation Management
The Diploma in Catering and Accommodation Management is a TVET CDACC Level 6 qualification that equips trainees with knowledge, skills, and attitudes to perform managerial duties in catering and accommodation establishments.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 72,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 144,000 to Ksh 216,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 77,000 a year at a private one.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of C- or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 2-3 years, full-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 46 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Pastry Chef, at 5 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
The curriculum covers food and beverage production, food and beverage service and sales, housekeeping, front office and laundry operations, catering and accommodation control, catering premises maintenance, accommodation management, hospitality accounting, hospitality law, diet therapy, sales and marketing, human relations, principles of management, and research methods.
The programme is accredited by TVET CDACC under the Catering and Accommodation Management Level 6 qualification and examined by KNEC in most institutions.
Training combines classroom theory with extensive practical sessions in training kitchens, restaurants, and simulated accommodation facilities. Trainees work with professional kitchen equipment, front office systems, and housekeeping tools.
Graduates find employment in hotels, restaurants, lodges, hospitals, schools, airlines, and catering companies. Major employers include Serena Hotels, Sarova Hotels, Radisson, Marriott, Kenya Airways, and various educational and healthcare institutions.
The programme suits KCSE graduates with a mean grade of C- who have an interest in hospitality and customer service, as well as craft certificate holders seeking to upgrade. It provides a progression pathway to degree programmes in Hospitality Management or Hotel Management.
What you study
10 subjects- Food and Beverage Production
- Food and Beverage Service and Sales
- Housekeeping, Front Office and Laundry
- Catering and Accommodation Control
- Catering and Accommodation Premises
- Accommodation Management
- Hospitality Accounting
- Law Related to Hospitality Industry
- Diet Therapy
- Sales and Marketing for Hospitality
Modules
12 in the programmeFood and Beverage Service and Sales
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Restaurant service, beverage service, sales techniques, and customer care for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Housekeeping, Front Office and Laundry
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Housekeeping operations, front office management, guest services for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Food and Beverage Production
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Culinary techniques, food preparation methods, and kitchen operations for for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Communication Skills, ICT and Entrepreneurship
Year 1Semester 13 creditsElective
Business communication, ICT applications, and entrepreneurship for for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Catering and Accommodation Control
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Cost control, stock management, and financial controls for catering and for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Catering and Accommodation Premises
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Premises layout, equipment maintenance, hygiene standards, and safety for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Hospitality Accounting
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Accounting principles for hospitality businesses, financial statements for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Law Related to Hospitality Industry
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Legal requirements for hospitality businesses, licensing, health regulations for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Accommodation Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Room management, guest services, reservation systems, and accommodation for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Diet Therapy
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Therapeutic diets, nutritional planning, and special dietary requirements for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Industrial Attachment
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Three-month industry placement in a hotel, lodge, hospital, or catering for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Accommodation Operations Management
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced accommodation management, property management systems for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Specialisations
Accommodation Management
Focuses on lodging operations, housekeeping management, and guest services, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Catering and Food Production
Focuses on food production management, menu planning, and catering operations, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Institutional Catering
Focuses on catering management in schools, hospitals, and other institutions, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Event Management
Focuses on planning and executing large-scale catering and accommodation for events, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
A day as a student
A typical day begins at 8:00 AM with a theory session on hospitality accounting or catering control, followed by a three-hour kitchen practical preparing different cuisines. Afternoons often involve front office simulations, housekeeping practicals in training rooms, or food and beverage service practice in the training restaurant. Industrial attachment places students in hotels, hospitals, or school catering departments for real-world hospitality experience.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Kenya's growing hospitality and tourism sector creates strong demand for trained catering and accommodation professionals | Hospitality work involves long hours, weekend shifts, and holiday work |
| Dual qualification in both catering and accommodation opens wider career opportunities | Entry-level positions may involve physically demanding work in kitchens and housekeeping |
| Strong self-employment potential through catering businesses, event management, or accommodation facilities | — |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 91 hospitality & tourism coursesAnnual 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
TVET 67K, TUM 72K/yr pub. Embu 66K, MUST TVET 77K/yr pvt (kenyaeducationguide.com, tvet.must.ac.ke).
HELB offers loans and bursaries for TVET students. Kenya Utalii College offers partial bursaries for students with strong KCSE performance. County government bursaries and NG-CDF funds are widely available.
Funding options
HELB TVET Loan and Bursary
County Government Bursaries
NG-CDF Constituency Bursary
Scholarships
3 recordedNG-CDF Bursary
BursaryKsh 15,000Kenyan
Constituency-based bursary for needy students
Kenya Utalii College Partial Bursary
BursaryKsh 50,000Kenyan
Students with strong KCSE performance and demonstrated financial need
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
All TVET students enrolled in KUCCPS-placed programmes
Scholarships you could apply for
6 usable where it is taught- Equity Group Foundation Wings to Fly
Closes 28 February 2027FullEquity Bank
Full secondary + university
- Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship
Closes 31 March 2027FullAga Khan Foundation
Full university study
- Family Bank Foundation Education Support
Closes 30 June 2027PartialFamily Bank
KES 80,000 per year
- HELB Undergraduate Scholarship
Closes 31 July 2027PartialHigher Education Loans Board
KES 40,000 to 60,000 per year
- County Government Scholarships
Varies by countyPartialCounty Governments
KES 50,000 to 200,000 per year
- Moringa School Craftbyte Scholarship
QuarterlyFullMoringa School
Full software development course
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
Craft Certificate in Catering and Accommodation, or equivalent qualification as determined by KNEC.
When it next starts
Taught at 46 institutionsIncluding Machakos University, Meru University of Science and Technology, Technical University of Kenya.
Including Machakos University, Meru University of Science and Technology, Technical University of Kenya.
Including Machakos University, Meru University of Science and Technology, Technical University of Kenya.
How you are assessed
3 componentsContinuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Internal assessments including practical cookery tests, service demonstrations, and theory CATs
KNEC End-of-Module Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
National examinations at the end of each module covering theory and practical components
Industrial Attachment Assessment
Practical100% of the mark
Assessment of performance during three-month industry placement
Accreditation
Technical and Vocational Education and Training Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council
Curriculum and certificationRequired
Catering and Accommodation Management Level 6
Kenya National Examinations Council
ExaminationRequired
Primary examination body for most institutions offering this diploma
Tourism Regulatory Authority of Kenya
Sector regulationRequired
Regulates hospitality and tourism training standards in Kenya
Accredited by TVET CDACC (Catering and Accommodation Management Level 6) and regulated by TVETA and the Tourism Regulatory Authority of Kenya. Most institutions offer the KNEC-examined variant.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
5 rolesCatering Supervisor
High demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 50,000
Supervises food production and service in catering establishments, institutions, or events
Accommodation Manager
High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 70,000
Manages lodging operations, housekeeping, and guest services in hotels and institutions
Housekeeping Supervisor
High demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 45,000
Supervises housekeeping staff, maintains cleanliness standards, and manages laundry operations
Front Office Executive
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 55,000
Manages reception, guest check-ins, reservations, and customer service at hospitality establishments
School or Hospital Matron
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 70,000
Oversees catering and accommodation in institutional settings such as schools and hospitals
Graduate outcomes
Graduates are in high demand across Kenya's growing hospitality sector. Entry-level salaries range from KSH 25,000 to KSH 45,000 per month, with experienced catering and accommodation managers earning KSH 60,000 to KSH 150,000+ per month in hotels and institutional catering.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Pastry ChefHospitality & Tourism5Low exposure
- Early Childhood StrategistEducation10Low exposure
- Group Tour OperatorHospitality & Tourism10Low exposure
- SommelierHospitality & Tourism10Low exposure
- Special Needs EducatorEducation10Low exposure
- Career Guidance CounselorEducation11Low exposure
- Culinary Tourism DesignerHospitality & Tourism11Low exposure
- Safari Tech GuideHospitality & Tourism11Low exposure
Tools you will learn
Commercial Kitchen Equipment
EquipmentPrimary
Professional ovens, stoves, fryers, and food preparation equipment for catering operations
Property Management Systems (PMS)
SoftwarePrimary
Hotel management software for reservations, check-ins, and room management
Housekeeping Management Tools
Equipment
Cleaning equipment, laundry machines, and housekeeping inventory management tools
Point of Sale (POS) Systems
Software
Restaurant POS systems for order management, billing, and sales tracking
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Catering and accommodation is just about cooking and cleaning
The diploma covers management, accounting, law, marketing, and operations management, preparing graduates for supervisory and managerial roles in the hospitality industry.
Hospitality careers have no growth potential in Kenya
Kenya's growing tourism sector, conference industry, and institutional catering create diverse career opportunities from catering management to hotel general management, with experienced professionals earning competitive salaries.