Health Sciences

Diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics

The Diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics is a TVET CDACC Level 6 qualification that equips learners with knowledge and skills in food science, human nutrition, diet therapy, and public health nutrition.

The curriculum covers human anatomy and physiology, principles of human nutrition, dietetics operations, maternal infant and young child nutrition, nutrition in communicable and non-communicable diseases, specialised meal management, food processing and preservation, nutrition education and counselling, malnutrition case management, nutritional biochemistry, nutritional epidemiology, diet therapy in systemic and non-systemic conditions, nutrition in emergencies, food microbiology.

The programme is accredited by TVET CDACC under the Nutrition and Dietetics Level 6 qualification (code 091506T4NUT, ISCED 0915554A) and examined by KNEC in some institutions. Graduates must register with the Kenya Nutritionists and Dieticians Institute (KNDI) to practise.

Training combines classroom theory with laboratory practicals, clinical rotations in hospitals, and community outreach programmes. Trainees work with nutritional assessment tools, diet planning software, food analysis equipment, and clinical nutrition resources.

Graduates find employment in hospitals, county health departments, NGOs, schools, food manufacturing industries, sports clubs, and wellness centres.

The programme suits KCSE graduates with a mean grade of C- who have an interest in health, food, and nutrition, as well as certificate holders seeking to upgrade. It provides a progression pathway to degree programmes in Food Nutrition and Dietetics, Public Health, or Clinical Nutrition.

Duration: 2-3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 122,200
Private, up to: Ksh 103,650
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: 30 students
Award: Diploma

What you study

10 subjects

Human Nutrition and Metabolism
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Diet Therapy and Clinical Nutrition
Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition
Nutrition in Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases
Food Science, Processing and Preservation
Nutritional Biochemistry
Community Nutrition and Public Health
Nutrition Education and Counselling
Food Microbiology and Parasitology

Modules

12 in the programme

Human Nutrition and Anatomy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles of human nutrition, macronutrients, micronutrients for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Food Science and Microbiology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Food composition, food hygiene, food microbiology, parasitology, and food safety
Nutrition Legal Ethics and Professional Practice
Year 1Semester 13 creditsElective
Legal aspects of nutrition practice, professional ethics, and KNDI for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Nutrition during pregnancy, lactation, infant feeding, and young child for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Dietetics Operations and Meal Planning
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Principles of dietetics, meal planning, food preparation, and specialised for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Nutrition in Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Nutritional management of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, diabetes, hypertension for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Nutritional Biochemistry
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Biochemical basis of nutrition, metabolism, and nutritional biochemistry for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Food Processing and Preservation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsElective
Principles of food processing, preservation techniques, and food product for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Diet Therapy in Systemic Conditions
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Therapeutic diets for gastrointestinal, renal, liver, and cardiovascular for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Nutrition Education and Counselling
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Behaviour change communication, nutrition counselling techniques for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Malnutrition Case Management
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Assessment and management of acute and chronic malnutrition in clinical and for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Diet Therapy in Non-Systemic Conditions
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Therapeutic diets for cancer, burns, trauma, surgery, and other for professional practice and competency development in the field.

Specialisations

Clinical Dietetics
Focuses on therapeutic diet planning and nutritional management of patients in clinical settings, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Community and Public Health Nutrition
Focuses on community nutrition programmes, public health interventions, and nutrition surveillance, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Food Service Management
Focuses on institutional food service operations, quality assurance, and nutritional standards, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Maternal and Child Nutrition
Focuses on nutrition during pregnancy, lactation, infant feeding, and young child nutrition programmes, 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 nutritional biochemistry or diet therapy, followed by a laboratory practical on food analysis or nutritional assessment techniques. Afternoons often involve clinical rotations in hospital dietetics departments, community nutrition outreach, or meal planning workshops. Industrial attachment and clinical practicum place students in hospitals, NGOs, or community health programmes for hands-on nutrition practice.

The trade offs

In its favour

Growing demand driven by rising lifestyle diseases and government nutrition programmes
Diverse employment opportunities in hospitals, NGOs, county governments, food industry, and private practice
Clear progression pathway to degree programmes in Food Nutrition and Dietetics or Public Health

Against it

KNDI registration is mandatory to practise, requiring additional steps after graduation
Some hospitals prefer degree holders for clinical dietitian positions, limiting entry-level opportunities for diploma graduates

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 349 health sciences courses

Public67k to 122k

67k at TVET institutions (standard self-sponsored rate)122k at Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Year 1

Private60k to 104k

60k at Outspan Medical College104k at Mount Kenya 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

KMTC 122.2K Y1/118K Y2+, TVET 67K (tvet.co.ke). Outspan 59.7K-MKU 103.7K/yr

HELB offers loans and bursaries for TVET students. KMTC offers government-subsidised rates. County government bursaries and NG-CDF funds are widely available. Some NGOs offer sponsorship for students committed to community nutrition work.

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 Nutrition and Dietetics or Nutrition and Food Sciences from a recognised institution, or equivalent qualification as determined by KNDI and KNQA.

How you are assessed

3 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Internal assessments including theory tests, laboratory practicals, and case studies
KNEC/CDACC End-of-Module Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
National examinations at the end of each module covering theory and practical components
Clinical Practicum and Attachment Assessment
Practical100% of the mark
Assessment of clinical rotations and community nutrition attachment performance

Accreditation

Accredited by TVET CDACC (Nutrition and Dietetics Level 6, code 091506T4NUT, ISCED 0915554A) and regulated by TVETA. Most institutions offer the KNEC-examined variant. Graduates must register with KNDI to practise as nutritionists or dieticians in Kenya.

Accredited by

Technical and Vocational Education and Training Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council
Curriculum and certificationRequired
Nutrition and Dietetics Level 6, code 091506T4NUT, ISCED 0915554A
Kenya National Examinations Council
ExaminationRequired
Primary examination body for most institutions offering this diploma
Kenya Nutritionists and Dieticians Institute
Professional registrationRequired
Mandatory professional registration to practise as a nutritionist or dietician in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Clinical Nutritionist
High demandKsh 36,000 to Ksh 70,000
Provides nutritional care and diet therapy in hospital and clinical settings
Community Nutrition Officer
High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 65,000
Implements community nutrition programmes in county health departments and NGOs
Dietitian
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 90,000
Plans and manages therapeutic diets for patients with various medical conditions
Food Service Manager
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 70,000
Manages food service operations in hospitals, schools, and institutions ensuring nutritional standards
Nutrition Educator
Moderate demandKsh 32,000 to Ksh 60,000
Conducts nutrition education programmes in schools, communities, and health facilities

Graduate outcomes

Graduates are in growing demand as Kenya addresses malnutrition and lifestyle diseases. Entry-level nutritionists and dietitians earn KSH 36,000 to KSH 70,000 per month, with experienced professionals earning KSH 70,000 to KSH 130,000+ per month in hospitals, NGOs, and private practice.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Office Suite
Software
Essential for report writing, data analysis, and nutrition programme documentation
Nutritional Assessment Tools
EquipmentPrimary
Anthropometric equipment, BMI calculators, and nutritional status assessment tools
Food Analysis Equipment
Equipment
Laboratory equipment for food composition analysis and nutritional content testing
Diet Planning Software
SoftwarePrimary
Software for meal planning, nutritional analysis, and diet prescription

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Nutrition and dietetics is just about telling people what to eat
The diploma covers clinical diet therapy, nutritional biochemistry, public health nutrition, emergency nutrition, food science, and research, preparing graduates for diverse roles in hospitals, communities, and food industries.
There are limited job opportunities for nutritionists in Kenya
Growing awareness of lifestyle diseases, government nutrition programmes, NGO interventions, and the food industry's focus on product nutrition create increasing demand for qualified nutritionists and dietitians across Kenya.