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Diploma in Purchasing and Supplies Management

The Diploma in Purchasing and Supplies Management is a three-year programme examined by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and offered at technical and vocational training institutions across Kenya. It equips students with competencies in procurement, supply chain management, warehousing, and contract management. The programme is accredited by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) under the TVET Act, 2013.

Duration
3 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 67,189
Ksh 201,567 total
Private tuition
Ksh 103,700
Ksh 311,100 total
Job market
High
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 103,700 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 2 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Forensic Audit Investigator, at 17 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

Module I covers life skills, communication skills, information communication technology, entrepreneurship and business plan, supply chain management and purchasing principles, warehousing and operations and stock control, economics, elements of law, financial accounting, business finance, and office organisation. Students learn foundational principles of procurement, inventory management, and business law.

Module II advances to public procurement and finance, purchasing management, supply management, cost accounting, principles and practices of marketing, quantitative techniques, office administration and management, and life skills. Module III focuses on purchasing and supplies strategy, operating management, project and contract management, international purchasing, managerial accounting, principles and practices of management, research methods or project, and a practicum.

Entry requirements are a KCSE mean grade of C- (minus) with C- in Mathematics and English. The programme is widely available at national polytechnics, technical training institutes, and university-affiliated TVET centres across Kenya.

Graduates pursue careers as procurement officers, supply chain assistants, stores officers, inventory controllers, and purchasing assistants in government ministries, county governments, NGOs, and private companies. The programme provides a progression pathway to a Higher National Diploma and subsequently to a degree in procurement or supply chain management.

The programme includes a compulsory industrial attachment and practicum. Government-sponsored students placed through KUCCPS receive capitation funding, and HELB loans are available for eligible students. The standardised annual tuition fee at public TVET institutions is KES 67,189.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Supply Chain Management and Purchasing Principles
  • Warehousing and Operations and Stock Control
  • Public Procurement and Finance
  • Purchasing Management
  • Project and Contract Management
  • International Purchasing
  • Cost Accounting
  • Financial Accounting
  • Elements of Law
  • Quantitative Techniques

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Life Skills

    Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore

    Personal development, decision-making, and interpersonal skills for professional practice.

  • Communication Skills

    Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore

    Business communication, report writing, and presentation skills for procurement professionals.

  • Supply Chain Management and Purchasing Principles

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Fundamental principles of supply chain management, purchasing processes, and procurement cycles.

  • Warehousing and Operations and Stock Control

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Warehouse management, inventory control systems, and stock management techniques.

  • Elements of Law

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Legal principles governing commercial transactions, contract law, and procurement regulations.

  • Financial Accounting

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Accounting principles, financial statements, and bookkeeping for procurement and supply operations.

  • Public Procurement and Finance

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Public procurement regulations, PPRA compliance, and government procurement processes.

  • Purchasing Management

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Strategic purchasing management, supplier selection, and purchasing performance measurement.

  • Purchasing and Supplies Strategy

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Strategic procurement planning, supply chain strategy development, and competitive advantage.

  • Project and Contract Management

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Contract formulation, project procurement, and contract administration in supply chain operations.

  • International Purchasing

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    International procurement, import-export procedures, and global sourcing strategies.

  • Practicum

    Year 3Semester 24 creditsCore

    Supervised field placement in a procurement or supply chain department applying learned competencies.

Specialisations

  • Public Procurement

    Focus on government procurement regulations, PPRA compliance, and public sector tendering.

  • International Purchasing

    Specialisation in global sourcing, import-export, and international trade.

  • Contract Management

    Focus on contract formulation, administration, and dispute resolution.

  • Warehousing and Logistics

    Specialisation in warehouse management, inventory control, and distribution.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on procurement law or supply chain principles with afternoon case study analysis, procurement simulation exercises, and group discussions on inventory management.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
High demand for procurement professionals in Kenya's public and private sectors.Procurement roles carry significant responsibility and accountability for organisational resources.
Clear professional pathway through KISM registration and CIPS international qualifications.Requires strong ethical standards and compliance with complex procurement regulations.
Practical curriculum with industrial attachment in real procurement departments.Competitive field requiring continuous professional development to advance.

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 Public TVET colleges (standardized rate)67k at Public TVET colleges (standardized rate)
Private61k to 104k
61k at Zetech University104k at Kabarak 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 67K/yr. Zetech 61K, Kabarak 104K/yr (tuko.co.ke, kabarak.ac.ke)

Government-sponsored students placed through KUCCPS receive capitation funding. HELB loans of up to KES 60,000 per year are available for eligible TVET diploma students.

Funding options

  • HELB Loan

  • KUCCPS Government Capitation

  • County Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • HELB TVET Loan

    LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan

    Kenyan students placed by KUCCPS in accredited TVET institutions.

  • KUCCPS Government Capitation

    SubsidyKsh 30,000Kenyan

    Government-sponsored students placed by KUCCPS receive capitation funding.

  • County Bursary

    BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan

    Various county governments offer bursaries for TVET students.

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

Pass in a relevant Craft Certificate or equivalent qualification approved by KNEC.

Subject requirements
MathematicsC-
English or KiswahiliC-

When it next starts

Taught at 2 institutions
January 20272 institutions

Including The CUK Nairobi Cbd Training Institute, Rongo University Technical and Vocational Training Institute.

May 20272 institutions

Including The CUK Nairobi Cbd Training Institute, Rongo University Technical and Vocational Training Institute.

September 20272 institutions

Including The CUK Nairobi Cbd Training Institute, Rongo University Technical and Vocational Training Institute.

How you are assessed

3 components

  • End of Module KNEC Examinations

    Written examination70% of the mark

    KNEC-administered examinations at the end of each module.

  • Continuous Assessment Tests

    Cat20% of the mark

    Internal continuous assessment tests throughout each module.

  • Practicum

    Practical assessment10% of the mark

    Supervised field practicum in a procurement or supply chain department.

Accreditation

  • Kenya National Examinations Council

    AcademicRequired

    Examined by KNEC under course code DISM. Institutions must be TVETA-accredited.

  • Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority

    InstitutionalRequired

    All TVET institutions offering this programme must be registered and accredited by TVETA.

Examined by KNEC and accredited by TVETA under the TVET Act, 2013. Graduates may register with the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM) as professional members.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Procurement Officer

    High demandKsh 480,000 to Ksh 840,000

    Manages procurement processes including sourcing, tendering, and supplier management in organisations.

  • Supply Chain Assistant

    High demandKsh 420,000 to Ksh 720,000

    Assists in supply chain operations including inventory management and logistics coordination.

  • Stores Officer

    Moderate demandKsh 360,000 to Ksh 600,000

    Manages warehouse operations, stock control, and inventory records.

  • Inventory Controller

    Moderate demandKsh 420,000 to Ksh 660,000

    Monitors and controls inventory levels, conducts stock audits, and manages stock replenishment.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates are in high demand as procurement officers and supply chain assistants in government, NGOs, and private sector organisations across Kenya.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • Microsoft Office Suite (Excel)

    SoftwarePrimary

  • SAP ERP (Procurement Module)

    Software

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Purchasing and supplies is just buying things.

    Modern procurement involves strategic sourcing, contract law, international trade, risk management, and ethical considerations.

  • Procurement officers are not well paid.

    Procurement professionals are among the better-paid business professionals, with senior roles commanding competitive salaries in both public and private sectors.

  • A diploma limits career progression in procurement.

    The diploma provides progression to Higher National Diploma, degree, and professional CIPS qualifications, with many graduates reaching senior procurement roles.

  • Procurement is prone to corruption and not a clean profession.

    Modern procurement training emphasises ethics, transparency, and compliance with PPRA regulations, making it a regulated and professional career.

Further reading

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