Business

Diploma in Logistics and Supplies Management

The Diploma in Logistics and Supplies Management is a KNEC-examined programme that trains graduates in the movement, storage, and management of goods and materials across supply chains.

Students study procurement, purchasing principles and techniques, materials and production management, logistics, public and business finance, and management information systems, covering the full supply chain function. Skills RequiredProcurementPurchasing PrinciplesMaterials and Production ManagementLogisticsPublic and Business FinanceKey SubjectsProcurementPurchasing Principles and TechniquesMaterials and Production ManagementPurchasing and Supplies LogisticsManagement Accounting for Supplies ManagementCertificationsKenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM) progression pathwaysSpecializationsProcurement and PurchasingFocus on sourcing, purchasing, and supplier management. Materials and Warehouse ManagementFocus on inventory, warehousing, and materials handling. Skills RequiredLogisticsMaterials and Production ManagementProcurementPublic and Business FinancePurchasing PrinciplesKey SubjectsProcurementPurchasing Principles and TechniquesMaterials and Production ManagementPurchasing and Supplies LogisticsManagement Accounting for Supplies ManagementResearch MethodsCertificationsKenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) CertificationSpecializationsProcurement and PurchasingFocus on sourcing, purchasing, and supplier management. Materials and Warehouse ManagementFocus on inventory, warehousing, and materials handling.

Kenya's manufacturing, retail, and trade sectors all depend on effective supply chain management, creating steady demand for trained logistics and supplies professionals across industries.

Training combines classroom logistics and procurement theory with case studies and a supervisory project, culminating in a practicum placement in a logistics or supplies department.

Graduates work as logistics officers, supplies/procurement assistants, and warehouse coordinators, with progression into KISM's professional procurement pathway or a Bachelor's degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management.

The programme suits students who want a broad supply chain qualification spanning procurement, logistics, and materials management, applicable across manufacturing, retail, and service sectors.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 67,189
Private, up to: Ksh 91,950
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time, Evening
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 35 students
Award: Diploma

What you study

6 subjects

Procurement
Purchasing Principles and Techniques
Materials and Production Management
Purchasing and Supplies Logistics
Management Accounting for Supplies Management
Research Methods

Modules

10 in the programme

Logistics Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Logistics operations and management including planning, organising, staffing, and controlling operational activities and resources.
Inventory Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Stock control and warehousing including planning, organising, staffing, and controlling operational activities and resources.
Information Communication Technology
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Computer applications and digital literacy for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Procurement
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Core procurement processes and principles, including sourcing for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Communication Skills
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Written and oral communication skills for professional workplace communication and effective correspondence.
Purchasing Principles and Techniques
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Techniques for effective purchasing and supplier negotiation for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Materials and Production Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Managing materials flow within production and supply operations for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Practicum / Project
Year 2Semester 16 creditsCore
Supervised practicum placement culminating in a project report for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Purchasing and Supplies Logistics
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Logistics coordination within the purchasing and supplies function for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Management Accounting for Supplies Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Financial and costing principles applied to supplies management for professional practice and competency development in the field.

Specialisations

Procurement and Purchasing
Focus on sourcing, purchasing, and supplier management, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Materials and Warehouse Management
Focus on inventory, warehousing, and materials handling, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Transport Management
Focus on transport operations, fleet coordination, route planning, and transport cost management within Kenyan logistics and distribution networks.
Supply Chain Analytics
Focus on supply chain data analysis, performance metrics, inventory optimisation, and data-driven decision making within Kenyan supply chain operations.

A day as a student

Days combine procurement and logistics theory with case studies on materials management and supply chain coordination, working toward a supervisory practicum project.

The trade offs

In its favour

Broadly applicable across manufacturing, retail, and government sectors that all need supply chain staff.
Wide institutional availability and flexible study modes.

Against it

The business diploma market is crowded, so differentiation through experience or further qualification (e.g. KISM) matters for advancement.
Entry-level logistics/supplies pay is modest before progressing to senior roles.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 331 business courses

Public67k to 67k

67k at Eldoret Polytechnic67k at Kabete National Polytechnic

Private60k to 92k

60k at Kabarak University92k at Zetech 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

TVET 67,189/yr; Kabarak 60K, Zetech 91,950/yr tuition (eafinder.com, kabarak.ac.ke).

Students can access HELB loans and county bursaries; manufacturing and retail companies occasionally sponsor students for guaranteed employment.

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 recorded

County 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.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: D+
Alternative entry: KCE Division III or a relevant certificate from a recognised institution.

How you are assessed

3 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Tests across procurement and logistics units.
Practicum Project
Coursework20% of the mark
Supervised placement culminating in a project report.
Final Examinations
Examination50% of the mark
End-of-programme written examinations.

Accreditation

KNEC-examined diploma, widely offered across Kenyan business colleges.

Accredited by

Kenya National Qualifications Authority
Qualification recognitionRequired
KNEC-examined diploma recognised within Kenya's TVET qualifications framework.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Transport Manager
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 80,000
Manages transport operations, fleet coordination, route planning, and delivery scheduling for logistics companies and distribution operations in Kenya.
Logistics Officer
High demandKsh 27,000 to Ksh 45,000
Coordinates the movement and storage of goods for an organisation.
Supplies/Procurement Assistant
High demandKsh 26,000 to Ksh 42,000
Supports sourcing, purchasing, and supplier records.
Warehouse Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 26,000 to Ksh 40,000
Manages inventory and warehouse operations for a business.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as logistics officers, supplies/procurement assistants, and warehouse coordinators.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SAP Extended Warehouse Management
Erp softwarePrimary
Warehouse and logistics management module for inventory control, goods receipt, and dispatch operations.
Microsoft Excel
Data analysisPrimary
Inventory tracking, logistics planning, supply chain data analysis, and cost management.
QuickBooks
Accounting software
Financial management for logistics operations, supplier payments, and inventory valuation.
Google Maps
Route planning
Route optimisation and delivery planning tool for logistics and supply distribution.
Barcode Scanners
Inventory equipment
Barcode scanning equipment for warehouse inventory management and goods tracking.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Logistics and supplies management is the same as freight forwarding.
It covers the full supply chain — procurement, materials management, and logistics — not just cross-border freight movement.
This diploma and the APS-K qualification are identical.
This is a broader KNEC-examined diploma covering logistics and materials management, while APS-K is KISM's specific procurement-focused professional qualification.