Diploma in Human Resource Management
This Level 5 competency-based programme prepares students to support the day-to-day people-management and record-keeping that keeps organisations running. It trains HR clerks and assistants who maintain personnel records, help with recruitment, support payroll, and ensure staff files and statutory requirements are in order.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 108,503 a year at a public institution, Ksh 325,509 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 106,650 a year at a private one.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of KCSE mean grade D+ (Plus) or above, plus 2 subject grades. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 3 years, full-time, part-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 151 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Early Childhood Strategist, at 10 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
Students learn to maintain HR records and files, support recruitment and onboarding, assist with payroll and benefits, apply basic employment-law requirements, support training and leave administration, handle staff welfare issues, and use HR systems and spreadsheets. They also develop communication, numeracy, digital-literacy, and ethics skills central to reliable, confidential HR support.
These skills matter because every employer must keep accurate staff records, pay staff correctly, and meet legal obligations such as contracts, NSSF, NHIF/SHIF, and PAYE. Graduates help organisations stay organised and compliant, reduce payroll errors and disputes, and free up managers to focus on their core work. Their support underpins decent work and smooth operations in businesses, SACCOs, NGOs, and county offices.
The programme blends classroom teaching, HR-software and spreadsheet labs, case studies, role-plays, and a supervised industrial attachment with an HR department or office. Assessment is competency-based, with learners judged on demonstrating real HR-support skills.
Graduates pursue careers as HR clerks, personnel records clerks, payroll clerks, and HR assistants in businesses, SACCOs, NGOs, and county governments, with progression to higher HR qualifications.
The programme is ideal for organised, reliable, people-oriented students who want a fast, practical route into office-based human-resource support roles.
What you study
8 subjects- HR Records and Filing Administration
- Recruitment Support and Onboarding
- Payroll Support and Statutory Deductions
- Employment-Law Basics and Contracts
- Leave, Attendance and Welfare Administration
- HR Systems and Spreadsheet Skills
- Communication and Office Administration
- Ethics and Confidentiality in HR
Modules
12 in the programmeIntroduction to Human Resource Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
The role of HR in organisations, the employment cycle, and basic HR for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Business Communication
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Written and oral communication, office correspondence, and customer relations for professional practice and competency development in the field.
HR Records and Filing Administration
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Creating and maintaining personnel files, contracts, attendance and leave records.
Bookkeeping and Accounting
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Double-entry bookkeeping, financial records, ledgers, and trial balance for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Office Administration
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Office procedures, records management, filing systems, and office technology for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Recruitment and Onboarding Support
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Supporting job advertising, shortlisting, interview logistics for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Business Mathematics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Calculations for business: percentages, interest, discounts, and payroll for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Payroll Support and Statutory Deductions
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Capturing payroll data, computing PAYE, NSSF, NHIF/SHIF, allowances for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Employment-Law Basics and Contracts
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Basic Kenya employment law, employment contracts, types of employment for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Entrepreneurship and Marketing
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Business plan development, market identification, and small business management.
Computerized Accounting/Office Practice
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Using accounting software, spreadsheets, and office applications for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Leave, Attendance and Welfare Administration
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Recording attendance and leave, administering staff welfare, and handling for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Specialisations
Payroll Support
Capturing payroll data and computing statutory deductions and allowances to keep payroll accurate, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
HR Records and Filing
Creating and maintaining personnel files, attendance and leave records, and confidential HR correspondence, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Leave and Welfare Administration
Recording attendance and leave and administering staff welfare and basic queries, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
HR Systems and Office Administration
Using HR software, spreadsheets, and digital tools to manage records, payroll, and office tasks, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Recruitment Support
Supporting job advertising, shortlisting, interviews, and onboarding logistics, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards.
A day as a student
A typical day is office-oriented and hands-on. Mornings cover theory on HR records, recruitment support, payroll, and employment-law basics. Afternoons shift to practical exercises and computer labs, where students set up and maintain personnel files, record attendance and leave, compute payroll and statutory deductions, draft contracts and letters, and use HR systems and spreadsheets. Students also practise interviewing and onboarding tasks. During industrial attachment, they work in an HR office, SACCO, or county administration, applying records, payroll, and recruitment-support skills in a real workplace.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Every employer needs HR support, so HR clerks and assistants are in steady demand across all sectors. | Entry-level pay is modest, and progression depends on gaining experience and further qualifications. |
| Lower entry bar (KCSE D+) widens access, with clear progression to Level 6 and diploma HR qualifications. | The work can be repetitive and carries real responsibility for accuracy and confidentiality of staff records. |
| Practical, competency-based training that leads directly to office-based roles with regular hours. | — |
| Transferable records, payroll, and office skills that work in any industry and organisation. | — |
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
Kibabii 108K/yr (kibu.ac.ke); Zetech 61K/yr, KCA 107K/yr (tuko.co.ke, KCAU PDF)
Funding is available through the HELB TVET loan, NG-CDF and county government bursaries, the Mastercard Foundation TVET scholarship, and government capitation for public TVET students.
Funding options
HELB TVET Loan
NG-CDF Bursary
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
Scholarships
5 recordedMastercard Foundation TVET Scholars Program
SponsorshipKsh 67,000Kenyan
Kenyan youth from disadvantaged backgrounds; TVET business programme; academic promise.
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Resident of the county; business/HR student; financial need.
NG-CDF Bursary
BursaryKsh 15,000Kenyan
Resident of the constituency; needy student in a TVET programme.
Government TVET Capitation
GrantKsh 30,000Kenyan
Kenyan student placed in a public TVET institution; subsidised tuition through government capitation.
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizen enrolled in an accredited TVET institution; financial need.
Scholarships you could apply for
8 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
- 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
- Kenyatta University Scholarship
Before semesterPartialKenyatta University
30 to 50% tuition waiver
- Moringa School Craftbyte Scholarship
QuarterlyFullMoringa School
Full software development course
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
A relevant Level 4 certificate, a Craft Certificate in Business or HR, or an equivalent qualification from a recognised institution. Prior learning and experience may be assessed for entry.
When it next starts
Taught at 151 institutionsIncluding Kenya Methodist University, Tharaka University, Meru University of Science and Technology.
Including Kenya Methodist University, Tharaka University, Meru University of Science and Technology.
Including Kenya Methodist University, Tharaka University, Meru University of Science and Technology.
How you are assessed
5 componentsTheory Assessments
Cat20% of the mark
Written assessments covering HR records, payroll, recruitment support, and employment-law basics.
HR-Support Project
Project10% of the mark
A supervised project such as setting up personnel files or running a payroll for a simulated organisation.
Practical and Software Demonstrations
Practicum40% of the mark
Competency-based assessment where learners demonstrate records, payroll, recruitment-support, and HRIS skills against CDACC standards.
Final Competency Assessment (KNEC/CDACC)
Exam20% of the mark
Final practical and theory competency assessment administered and certified for the Level 5 qualification.
Industrial Attachment Assessment
Practicum10% of the mark
Assessment of competencies demonstrated during supervised workplace attachment, verified by the employer and trainer.
Accreditation
Kenya National Examinations Council
NationalRequired
Administers competency assessment and issues certification for TVET Level 5 qualifications.
Technical and Vocical Education and Training Authority
NationalRequired
Mandatory accreditation for TVET institutions and programmes in Kenya.
Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council
NationalRequired
Develops the competency-based curriculum and assessment tools for this Level 5 qualification.
A competency-based qualification quality-assured by TVETA, with curriculum and assessment developed by the Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council (CDACC) and certification by KNEC.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
5 rolesPayroll Clerk
High demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 55,000
Captures payroll data, computes statutory deductions, and maintains payroll records for employers and outsourcing firms.
HR Assistant
Medium demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 60,000
Supports recruitment, onboarding, records, and welfare under an HR officer in SMEs and NGOs.
Office Administration Assistant
Medium demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 50,000
Handles general office and staff administration, records, and front-desk duties in small organisations.
Recruitment Support Assistant
Medium demandKsh 26,000 to Ksh 52,000
Helps recruitment agencies and in-house teams with advertising, shortlisting, interviews, and onboarding logistics.
HR Clerk / Personnel Records Clerk
High demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 50,000
Maintains personnel files, attendance and leave records, and HR correspondence in businesses, SACCOs, and county offices.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates work as HR clerks, personnel records clerks, payroll clerks, and HR assistants in businesses, SACCOs, NGOs, and county governments, with progression to higher HR qualifications.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Early Childhood StrategistEducation10Low exposure
- Special Needs EducatorEducation10Low exposure
- Career Guidance CounselorEducation11Low exposure
- Early Literacy SpecialistEducation14Low exposure
- STEM Laboratory EducatorEducation14Low exposure
- TVET Competency AssessorEducation14Low exposure
- Vocational Workshop InstructorEducation14Low exposure
- Montessori EducatorEducation15Low exposure
Tools you will learn
BambooHR
Hr softwarePrimary
HR management software for employee records and payroll
Microsoft Excel
Data analysisPrimary
Spreadsheet for HR data analysis and reporting
QuickBooks
Accounting software
Payroll and accounting software
Microsoft Office
Productivity suite
Office suite for HR documentation and correspondence
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
HR is just typing and filing.
HR support involves records, payroll, recruitment, statutory compliance, and confidentiality, all of which keep organisations lawful and running smoothly.
Level 5 qualifications only lead to dead-end clerical jobs.
Graduates enter HR offices and can progress to higher HR qualifications and officer roles, building a long-term HR career.
Software is making HR clerks obsolete.
HR systems still need trained people to capture, verify, and protect records and run payroll correctly.
You need to be outgoing to work in HR.
HR support needs reliability, accuracy, discretion, and basic people skills, which the training builds step by step.