Engineering

Diploma in Instrumentation and Control

The Diploma in Instrumentation and Control is a TVET CDACC Level 6 qualification that equips learners with competencies to install, operate, maintain, calibrate, and supervise instrumentation and control systems used in industrial automation.

The curriculum covers instrumentation and control system component installation, system operations and maintenance, electrical principles, electronic circuit fabrication, hydraulic and pneumatic system installation, engineering drawing and design, logic controller installation, electrical machine installation, advanced electronics circuit fabrication, electrical measurement and fault diagnosis, control and instrumentation system monitoring, control systems, industrial.

The programme is accredited by TVET CDACC under the Instrumentation and Control Level 6 qualification (code 071306T4, ISCED 0714 554A) and examined by KNEC in most institutions.

Training combines classroom theory with extensive workshop and laboratory practicals using programmable logic controllers, sensors, transmitters, control valves, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, oscilloscopes, and calibration equipment.

Graduates find employment in manufacturing plants, power generation stations, oil and gas companies, food processing industries, pharmaceutical companies, telecommunications, and industrial automation firms. Major employers include Kenya Pipeline Company, Kenya Power, oil refineries, cement manufacturers, sugar factories, and numerous processing plants.

The programme suits KCSE graduates with a mean grade of C- who have an interest in electrical and electronic systems and automation, as well as Level 5 certificate holders seeking to upgrade. It provides a progression pathway to degree programmes in Electrical Engineering, Control Engineering, or Mechatronics.

Duration: 2-3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 85,000
Private, up to: Ksh 51,000
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Diploma

What you study

10 subjects

Instrumentation and Control System Components
Electrical Principles and Machines
Electronic Circuit Fabrication
Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems
Logic Controllers and PLC Programming
Control Systems Theory
Industrial Measurement and Calibration
Electrical Measurement and Fault Diagnosis
Engineering Drawing and Design
Control and Instrumentation System Monitoring

Modules

12 in the programme

Instrumentation and Control System Component Installation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Installation of sensors, transmitters, control valves, and instrumentation for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Electrical Principles and Installation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Electrical fundamentals, wiring, circuits, and electrical safety in for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Engineering Mathematics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsElective
Mathematical foundations for instrumentation and control engineering for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Instrumentation and Control System Operations and Maintenance
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Operating and maintaining instrumentation and control systems in industrial for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Electronic Circuit Fabrication and Engineering Drawing
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Electronic circuit design, fabrication, PCB assembly, and engineering for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Communication Skills, Digital Literacy and Entrepreneurship
Year 2Semester 13 creditsElective
Business communication, ICT applications, and entrepreneurial skills for for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Hydraulic and Pneumatic System Installation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Hydraulic and pneumatic principles, component installation, and system for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Logic Controllers and Electrical Machine Installation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
PLC installation and programming, electrical machine installation for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Advanced Electronics Circuit Fabrication
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced electronic circuits, signal conditioning, and interface circuit design for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Electrical Measurement and Fault Diagnosis
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Electrical measurement techniques, instrument calibration, and systematic for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Control Systems Theory and Application
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Control system fundamentals, feedback control, PID controllers for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Control and Instrumentation System Monitoring
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
SCADA systems, HMI configuration, real-time monitoring, and process data for professional practice and competency development in the field.

Specialisations

Industrial Automation and PLC Programming
Focuses on PLC programming, SCADA systems, and industrial automation solutions, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Process Control and Instrumentation
Focuses on process control loops, PID controllers, and process instrumentation, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Calibration and Metrology
Focuses on instrument calibration, measurement standards, and quality assurance, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Hydraulic and Pneumatic Control Systems
Focuses on fluid power systems, pneumatic controls, and electro-hydraulic systems, 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 control systems or PLC programming, followed by a laboratory practical configuring sensors, calibrating instruments, or programming logic controllers. Afternoons often involve electronic circuit fabrication, hydraulic and pneumatic system exercises, or fault diagnosis simulations. Industrial attachment places students in manufacturing plants, power stations, or processing companies for real-world automation experience.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand as Kenyan industries increasingly adopt automation and process control
Specialised skills in PLC programming, SCADA, and calibration command premium salaries
Skills are transferable across manufacturing, oil and gas, power, food processing, and pharmaceuticals

Against it

Requires strong foundation in mathematics and physics, making it academically demanding
Offered at fewer institutions, limiting geographic access for some students

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 332 engineering courses

Public67k to 85k

67k at TVET institutions (KUCCPS rate)85k at Technical University of Mombasa

Private51k to 51k

51k at ICS Technical College51k at ICS Technical College

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

TUM 85K/yr (tum.ac.ke), TVET 67K (campus.co.ke). ICS 51K/yr (ics.ac.ke).

HELB offers loans and bursaries for TVET students. County government bursaries and NG-CDF funds are widely available. Some industrial companies offer sponsorship for students committed to working in manufacturing or processing sectors.

Funding options

HELB TVET Loan and Bursary
County Government Bursaries
NG-CDF Constituency Bursary

Scholarships

2 recorded

NG-CDF Bursary
BursaryKsh 15,000Kenyan
Constituency-based bursary for needy students
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
All TVET students enrolled in KUCCPS-placed programmes

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C-
Alternative entry: Certificate in Instrumentation and Control Level 5, or equivalent qualification as determined by KNQA.

How you are assessed

3 components

Continuous Internal Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
Practical laboratory assessments, project work, and theory tests
External Assessment (TVET CDACC)
External60% of the mark
Competency-based external assessment conducted by TVET CDACC
Industrial Attachment Assessment
Practical100% of the mark
Assessment of performance during three-month industrial placement

Accreditation

Accredited by TVET CDACC (Instrumentation and Control Level 6, code 071306T4, ISCED 0714 554A) and regulated by TVETA. Most institutions offer the KNEC-examined variant as Diploma in Instrumentation and Control Engineering or Diploma in Electrical and Electronics (Instrumentation option).

Accredited by

Technical and Vocational Education and Training Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council
Curriculum and certificationRequired
Instrumentation and Control Level 6, code 071306T4, ISCED 0714 554A
Kenya National Examinations Council
ExaminationRequired
Primary examination body, offered as Diploma in Instrumentation and Control Engineering
Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority
Institutional regulationRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Instrumentation Technician
High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 65,000
Installs, calibrates, and maintains instrumentation systems in industrial plants
Control Systems Technician
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 75,000
Configures and maintains control systems, PLCs, and SCADA systems in processing plants
Automation Specialist
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 90,000
Programs and maintains automated production systems and robotic controllers
Maintenance Technician
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 60,000
Performs preventive and corrective maintenance on instrumentation and control equipment
Calibration Technician
Moderate demandKsh 38,000 to Ksh 70,000
Calibrates industrial measurement instruments and ensures measurement traceability

Graduate outcomes

Graduates are in high demand as Kenya's manufacturing and processing industries increasingly adopt automation. Entry-level instrumentation technicians earn KSH 35,000 to KSH 60,000 per month, with experienced control systems technicians and automation specialists earning KSH 70,000 to KSH 130,000+ per month.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Oscilloscope and Multimeter
EquipmentPrimary
Electronic test instruments for circuit analysis, signal measurement, and fault diagnosis
Calibration Instruments
EquipmentPrimary
Pressure calibrators, temperature calibrators, and signal generators for instrument calibration
SCADA and HMI Software
Software
Supervisory control and data acquisition software for process monitoring and control
Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)
EquipmentPrimary
Industrial computers for automating manufacturing processes, including Siemens, Allen-Bradley, and Mitsubishi PLCs

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Instrumentation and control is just a branch of electrical engineering
While related to electrical engineering, this diploma specifically focuses on industrial automation, process control, measurement, calibration, and PLC programming, which are specialised skills in high demand across manufacturing and processing industries.
There are limited job opportunities for instrumentation technicians in Kenya
As Kenyan industries increasingly automate their processes, demand for qualified instrumentation and control technicians is growing rapidly in manufacturing, oil and gas, power generation, food processing, and pharmaceuticals.