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Diploma in Office Administrative Assistance

The Diploma in Office Administrative Assistance is a KNEC-examined programme that trains professionals in administrative support and office management. The course covers secretarial duties, computerised document processing, shorthand, communication skills, ICT, accounting, commercial and administrative law, and office administration and management across three modules.

Duration
3 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 67,189
Ksh 201,567 total
Private tuition
Ksh 63,651
Ksh 190,953 total
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 67,189 a year at a public institution, Ksh 201,567 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 63,651 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of C- or above, plus 2 subject grades. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 3 years, full-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 3 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 develop competencies in document processing, shorthand, office administration, ICT, business communication, and records management. The programme combines administrative skills with technology competencies essential for modern office environments.

Kenya's business sector, government departments, and educational institutions require qualified administrative support personnel. The Teachers Service Commission, county governments, corporate organisations, and NGOs recruit diploma holders for administrative assistant and secretarial positions.

The programme combines classroom theory with practical exercises in document processing, shorthand, office simulations, and communication. Students use office software, practice typing and shorthand, and participate in office management exercises. A supervised industrial attachment provides practical workplace experience.

Graduates work as administrative assistants, secretaries, personal assistants, and office administrators in government, corporate organisations, NGOs, and educational institutions. The TSC recruits diploma holders for assistant office administrator positions with salaries ranging from KES 45,000 to KES 85,000.

This programme is suitable for KCSE graduates with a mean grade of C- (minus) who are organised and interested in administrative support and secretarial careers.

What you study

6 subjects
  • Research Methods
  • Communication Skills
  • Information Technology
  • Project Management
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Statistics

Modules

10 in the programme

  • Office Administration I

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Principles of office administration, organisational structure, office layout, and the role of administrative assistants in business operations.

  • Information Communication Technology

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Computer applications for office management including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and presentation software for administrative tasks.

  • Typing and Keyboarding

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Keyboard skills development, touch typing techniques, and document production using word processing software for professional office tasks.

  • Communication Skills

    Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore

    Business communication, professional correspondence, report writing, and effective oral communication for office and administrative environments.

  • Records Management

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Filing systems design, records classification, retention schedules, and electronic records management for organisational efficiency and compliance.

  • Entrepreneurship

    Year 2Semester 12 creditsCore

    Business planning, enterprise development, and entrepreneurial skills for starting and managing administrative service ventures and businesses.

  • Office Administration II

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Advanced office management procedures, meeting coordination, travel arrangements, and executive support functions for administrative assistants.

  • Human Resource Management

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Human resource management principles including recruitment, induction, performance management, and labour relations for office administrators.

  • Principles of Management

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Management theory and practice, including planning, organising, leading, and controlling organisational resources for effective administration.

  • Office Administration III

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Strategic office management, administrative policy development, supervision of support staff, and operational decision-making in organisations.

Specialisations

  • Secretarial Practice

    Document processing, shorthand, correspondence management, and executive support functions, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.

  • Records Management

    Management of organisational records, filing systems, document archiving, and information governance, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.

  • Office Management

    Coordination of office operations, resources, and administrative systems for organisational efficiency, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.

  • Communication Skills

    Focus on business communication, correspondence management, telephone etiquette, and professional communication within Kenyan office environments.

A day as a student

Students attend morning theory classes and spend afternoons in practical sessions, workshops, or laboratory work applying concepts learned in class.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Administrative skills are needed in every sector including government, education, and private enterprise.Automation is reducing demand for traditional secretarial skills like shorthand and typing.
TSC and government positions offer permanent and pensionable employment for diploma holders.Career advancement to senior administrative roles may require additional management qualifications.

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 67k
67k at TVET institutions (standard self-sponsored rate)67k at TVET institutions (standard self-sponsored rate)
Private47k to 64k
47k at Jolearn College64k at KIBCo

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 (NENAP). KIBCo 63.7K, Jolearn 46.5K/yr (institution sites)

Students can access HELB TVET loans, county government bursaries, and NG-CDF bursaries to support their studies.

Funding options

  • HELB loan

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • HELB TVET/Diploma Loan

    LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan

    Needy Kenyan students enrolled in KUCCPS-placed or accredited diploma programmes at recognised TVET institutions.

  • County Government Bursaries

    BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan

    Bursaries provided by county governments for needy students from their respective counties.

  • NG-CDF Bursary

    BursaryKsh 15,000Kenyan

    Constituency Development Fund bursaries for needy students from the respective constituency.

Scholarships you could apply for

1 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade
C-minimum entry
Alternative entry

Craft Certificate in Secretarial Studies or Office Administration from an accredited TVET institution.

Subject requirements
English or Kiswahili
Mathematics

When it next starts

Taught at 3 institutions
January 20273 institutions

Including Kisii National Polytechnic, Nyeri National Polytechnic, Kabete National Polytechnic.

May 20273 institutions

Including Kisii National Polytechnic, Nyeri National Polytechnic, Kabete National Polytechnic.

September 20273 institutions

Including Kisii National Polytechnic, Nyeri National Polytechnic, Kabete National Polytechnic.

How you are assessed

3 components

  • Continuous Assessment Tests

    Coursework30% of the mark

    Mid-semester and end-of-semester CATs covering theory and practical components.

  • KNEC Module Examinations

    Exam60% of the mark

    National examinations administered by KNEC at the end of each module.

  • Industrial Attachment Assessment

    Practicum10% of the mark

    Supervised industrial attachment report and employer assessment.

Accreditation

  • Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority

    Academic accreditationRequired

    Statutory accreditation for TVET institutions offering this diploma programme.

  • Kenya National Examinations Council

    Examination bodyRequired

    Administers national examinations for the diploma programme at each module level.

Programmes accredited by TVETA and examined by KNEC, NITA, or CDACC in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Administrative Assistant

    High demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 52,000

    Provides administrative support including document processing, correspondence, records management, and office coordination.

  • Secretary

    High demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 48,000

    Manages correspondence, schedules, filing systems, and provides secretarial support to executives and departments.

  • Personal Assistant

    Medium demandKsh 32,000 to Ksh 58,000

    Provides executive support including diary management, travel coordination, and meeting preparation.

  • Records and Registry Officer

    Medium demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 45,000

    Manages organisational records, filing systems, and document archiving in government and private sector offices.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates of the Office Administrative Assistance programme work in relevant industries across Kenya, with opportunities in both public and private sectors.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • Microsoft Office

    Productivity suitePrimary

    Office suite for documentation, correspondence, and presentations

  • Microsoft Excel

    Data analysisPrimary

    Spreadsheet for office data management and reporting

  • QuickBooks

    Accounting software

    Accounting software for office financial tasks

  • Google Workspace

    Productivity suite

    Cloud-based office productivity suite

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • The Office Administrative Assistance diploma is just theory with no practical value.

    The programme emphasises hands-on practical training in workshops, laboratories, and industrial attachment, ensuring graduates are job-ready.

  • Graduates of this programme end up unemployed in Kenya.

    Kenya's expanding sectors create steady demand for diploma holders, with opportunities in county governments, private companies, and self-employment.

Further reading

Read next