Diploma in Entrepreneurship Development
The Diploma in Entrepreneurship Development is a KUCCPS-listed programme (Business & Related cluster) that trains graduates in the skills needed to start, manage, and grow small and medium enterprises across any sector.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 67,189 a year at a public institution, Ksh 134,378 to Ksh 201,567 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 73,650 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 70 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Forensic Audit Investigator, at 17 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
Students study business planning, small business finance, marketing for entrepreneurs, innovation and opportunity identification, and business law basics, building a general-purpose toolkit for enterprise creation and growth. Skills RequiredBusiness Plan DevelopmentSmall Business FinanceMarketing for EntrepreneursOpportunity IdentificationBusiness Law BasicsKey SubjectsPrinciples of EntrepreneurshipBusiness PlanningSmall Business FinanceMarketing for EntrepreneursInnovation and Opportunity IdentificationBusiness LawCertificationsKenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) RecognitionSpecializationsSmall Business Start-upFocus on launching and formalising a new small business. SME Support and AdvisoryFocus on advising and supporting other entrepreneurs through incubators or support programmes. Skills RequiredBusiness Law BasicsBusiness Plan DevelopmentMarketing for EntrepreneursOpportunity IdentificationSmall Business FinanceKey SubjectsPrinciples of EntrepreneurshipBusiness PlanningSmall Business FinanceMarketing for EntrepreneursInnovation and Opportunity IdentificationBusiness LawCertificationsKenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) CertificationSpecializationsSmall Business Start-upFocus on launching and formalising a new small business. SME Support and AdvisoryFocus on advising and supporting other entrepreneurs through incubators or support programmes.
With Kenya's economy heavily reliant on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for employment, entrepreneurship-focused training supports both self-employment and roles helping others start businesses, such as in business incubators or SME support programmes.
Training combines classroom business theory with practical business-plan development, pitching exercises, and a supervised industrial attachment or start-up project.
Graduates typically start their own businesses, work as SME support officers or business advisors, or take up sales and business development roles across various industries.
The programme suits students who want broad, general business start-up skills rather than a sector-specific business qualification, and who may not yet know which industry they want to build a venture in.
What you study
6 subjects- Principles of Entrepreneurship
- Business Planning
- Small Business Finance
- Marketing for Entrepreneurs
- Innovation and Opportunity Identification
- Business Law
Modules
10 in the programmeBusiness Plan Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Business plan preparation for enterprise development, business planning, and venture creation skills.
Marketing for Entrepreneurs
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Marketing for small businesses including market analysis, promotion strategies, and customer relationship management techniques.
Principles of Entrepreneurship
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational entrepreneurship theory and mindset development for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Business Planning
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Developing a comprehensive business plan for a new venture for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Financial Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Financial management for SMEs including planning, organising, staffing, and controlling operational activities and resources.
Small Business Finance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Financing options and financial management for small businesses for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Marketing for Entrepreneurs
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Marketing strategies tailored to small and growing businesses for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Innovation and Creativity
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Innovation in entrepreneurship as applied to entrepreneurship development principles, practices, and professional competency requirements.
Innovation and Opportunity Identification
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Techniques for spotting and validating business opportunities for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Industrial Attachment / Start-up Project
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised attachment or a student-led start-up project for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Specialisations
Small Business Start-up
Focus on launching and formalising a new small business, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
SME Support and Advisory
Focus on advising and supporting other entrepreneurs through incubators or support programmes, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Social Entrepreneurship
Focus on social enterprise development, impact measurement, sustainable business models, and social innovation within Kenyan social enterprise and NGO sectors.
Business Incubation
Focus on business incubation support, startup mentoring, accelerator programmes, and enterprise development services within Kenyan entrepreneurship ecosystems.
A day as a student
Days combine business theory lectures with practical business-plan development workshops, pitching exercises, and case studies of successful and failed Kenyan start-ups.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| General-purpose business skills applicable across any industry the graduate chooses. | Less specialised than sector-specific business diplomas, which may matter for certain employer preferences. |
| Directly supports self-employment, a major source of livelihoods in Kenya. | Outcomes for self-employed graduates vary widely and are not guaranteed by the qualification alone. |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 331 business 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/yr; Zetech 61.3K, MKU 73.7K/yr (victormatara.com, kenyaeducationguide.com)
Students can access HELB loans and county bursaries; the Youth Enterprise Fund and similar programmes support graduates starting businesses.
Funding options
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
Loan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited diploma programmes.
County Government Bursaries
Bursary
Bursaries for needy students from their respective counties.
Scholarships
2 recordedCounty Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Bursaries for needy students from their respective counties.
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited diploma programmes.
Scholarships you could apply for
12 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
- KCB Foundation Scholarship
Closes 31 March 2027FullKCB Bank
Full tuition + stipend
- University of Eldoret TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship
Closes 1 May 2027FullUniversity of Eldoret / Mastercard Foundation
Full tuition + living expenses
- Egerton University TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship
Closes 1 May 2027FullEgerton University / Mastercard Foundation
Full tuition + living expenses
- 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
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
A relevant certificate in business or a related field from a recognised institution.
When it next starts
Taught at 70 institutionsIncluding Pan Africa Christian University, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Egerton University.
Including Pan Africa Christian University, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Egerton University.
Including Pan Africa Christian University, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Egerton University.
How you are assessed
3 componentsContinuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Tests across entrepreneurship and business units.
Business Plan/Start-up Project
Coursework20% of the mark
Assessed business plan or start-up project.
Final Examinations
Examination50% of the mark
End-of-semester written examinations.
Accreditation
Kenya National Qualifications Authority
Qualification recognitionRequired
Recognised under Kenya's TVET qualifications framework.
KUCCPS-listed diploma (Business & Related cluster); examined by KNEC at most offering institutions.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesBusiness Development Officer
Moderate demandKsh 38,000 to Ksh 70,000
Supports entrepreneurs with business planning, mentorship, access to finance, and enterprise development services within Kenyan entrepreneurship ecosystems.
Small Business Owner (Self-employed)
Moderate demandKsh 20,000 to Ksh 55,000
Runs an independent small business; income varies with business performance.
SME Support Officer
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 42,000
Supports small business development through an incubator, fund, or government programme.
Business Development Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 45,000
Supports sales and business development for a company.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates typically start their own businesses, or work as SME support officers, business advisors, or in sales and business development.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Forensic Audit InvestigatorBusiness17Low exposure
- Franchise Operations ManagerBusiness18Low exposure
- Infrastructure Finance SpecialistBusiness18Low exposure
- Intermodal Reefer TechnicianBusiness18Low exposure
- Climate Risk UnderwriterBusiness19Low exposure
- Coldchain Logistics ManagerBusiness19Low exposure
- Municipal Finance SpecialistBusiness19Low exposure
- Islamic Banking SpecialistBusiness20Low exposure
Tools you will learn
Microsoft Office Suite
Productivity softwarePrimary
Word for business plan documentation, Excel for financial projections, and PowerPoint for investor presentations in entrepreneurship training.
QuickBooks
Accounting softwarePrimary
Accounting software for small enterprise bookkeeping, cash flow management, and financial reporting for start-up businesses.
Google Workspace
Productivity software
Cloud-based collaboration tools for business communication, document sharing, and enterprise management.
Canva
Marketing tool
Graphic design platform for creating marketing materials, business branding, and promotional content for small enterprises.
WhatsApp Business
Marketing tool
Mobile business communication and marketing tool for customer engagement and small enterprise product promotion in Kenya.
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Entrepreneurship can only be learned by doing, not studying.
Structured business planning, finance, and marketing skills taught in this diploma measurably improve new venture survival and growth.
The diploma guarantees business success.
It builds foundational skills, but success still depends on capital, market timing, and execution.