Arts & Humanities

Diploma in Speech and Language Therapy

The Diploma in Speech and Language Therapy is a KMTC diploma that trains therapists to assess and treat patients with speech, language, and communication disorders across the lifespan.

Students study speech and language development, communication disorder assessment, therapy techniques, swallowing disorders (dysphagia), and paediatric and adult therapy approaches, building clinical competence in this specialised rehabilitation field. Skills RequiredSpeech and Language AssessmentCommunication Disorder TherapyDysphagia ManagementPaediatric Therapy TechniquesPatient CommunicationKey SubjectsSpeech and Language DevelopmentCommunication Disorder AssessmentTherapy TechniquesDysphagia ManagementPaediatric and Adult TherapyCertificationsKenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council recognition pathwaysSpecializationsPaediatric Speech TherapyFocus on communication disorders in children and developmental delays. Adult and Neurological RehabilitationFocus on speech and swallowing disorders following stroke or injury. Skills RequiredCommunication Disorder TherapyDysphagia ManagementPaediatric Therapy TechniquesPatient CommunicationSpeech and Language AssessmentKey SubjectsSpeech and Language DevelopmentCommunication Disorder AssessmentTherapy TechniquesDysphagia ManagementPaediatric and Adult TherapyResearch MethodsCertificationsKenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) CertificationSpecializationsPaediatric Speech TherapyFocus on communication disorders in children and developmental delays. Adult and Neurological RehabilitationFocus on speech and swallowing disorders following stroke or injury.

Kenya faces a significant shortage of speech and language therapists relative to need, particularly for children with developmental communication disorders and stroke/injury patients with acquired speech difficulties.

Training combines classroom communication science theory with supervised clinical practicals assessing and treating real patients, plus a clinical attachment.

Graduates work as speech and language therapists in hospitals, rehabilitation centres, and special needs schools, with progression into Higher Diploma or Bachelor's degree specialisation.

The programme suits students with strong interest in communication science and patient care who want a specialised, high-demand allied health career.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 120,700
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: 20 students
Award: Diploma

What you study

6 subjects

Speech and Language Development
Communication Disorder Assessment
Therapy Techniques
Dysphagia Management
Paediatric and Adult Therapy
Research Methods

Modules

10 in the programme

Phonetics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Phonetics and speech sounds as applied to speech and language therapy principles, practices, and professional competency requirements.
Entrepreneurship Education
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Business planning and enterprise skills for enterprise development, business planning, and venture creation skills.
Information Communication Technology
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Computer applications and digital literacy for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Anatomy of Speech
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Anatomy of speech and hearing covering body systems, organs, and tissues relevant to clinical and health science practice.
Speech and Language Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Normal speech and language development across the lifespan for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Communication Disorder Assessment
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Techniques for assessing speech and language disorders for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Therapy Techniques
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Core intervention techniques for communication disorders for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Dysphagia Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Assessment and management of swallowing disorders for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Paediatric and Adult Therapy
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Therapy approaches tailored to children and adult patients for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Clinical Attachment
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised clinical placement at a hospital or rehabilitation centre for professional practice and competency development in the field.

Specialisations

Paediatric Speech Therapy
Focus on communication disorders in children and developmental delays, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Adult and Neurological Rehabilitation
Focus on speech and swallowing disorders following stroke or injury, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Swallowing Disorders
Focus on swallowing assessment, dysphagia management, feeding therapy, and swallowing rehabilitation within Kenyan hospital and clinical settings.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Focus on AAC systems, communication aids, device selection, and AAC intervention for individuals with severe communication impairments in Kenya.

A day as a student

Days combine communication science theory with supervised clinical practicals assessing and treating patients with speech, language, or swallowing difficulties.

The trade offs

In its favour

High, largely unmet demand for speech and language therapists across Kenya's healthcare and education systems.
Meaningful clinical work with lasting patient impact.

Against it

Limited training slots given the specialised nature of the field.
Emotionally demanding work, particularly with paediatric and stroke-recovery patients.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 188 arts & humanities courses

Public118k to 121k

118k at Kenya Medical Training College (Year 2+)121k at Kenya Medical Training College (Year 1)

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 self-spons 120.7K Yr1, 118K Yr2+ pub (kmtc.ac.ke). Private: unverified.

Students can access HELB loans and county bursaries; some rehabilitation NGOs and special needs schools sponsor students for guaranteed placement.

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: C plain
Alternative entry: Equivalent qualifications recognised by KMTC.

How you are assessed

3 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework25% of the mark
Tests across communication science theory units.
Clinical Practicum Assessments
Coursework35% of the mark
Supervised patient assessment and therapy performance assessments.
Final Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
End-of-semester written and practical examinations.

Accreditation

Offered at KMTC; part of Kenya's regulated rehabilitation sciences professional framework.

Accredited by

Kenya National Qualifications Authority
Qualification recognitionRequired
Offered at KMTC under Kenya's health training framework.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Rehabilitation Therapist
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 75,000
Provides speech and language therapy, conducts swallowing assessments, and supports communication rehabilitation in hospitals and rehabilitation centres.
Speech and Language Therapist (Public Hospital)
High demandKsh 32,000 to Ksh 52,000
Assesses and treats communication disorders at a public hospital.
Speech and Language Therapist (Special Needs School)
High demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 45,000
Supports students with communication disorders at a special needs school.
Rehabilitation Centre Therapist
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 48,000
Provides speech and language therapy at a rehabilitation centre or NGO.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as speech and language therapists in hospitals, rehabilitation centres, and special needs schools.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Boardmaker
Communication softwarePrimary
Symbol-based communication software for creating therapy materials and AAC resources.
Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT)
Assessment toolPrimary
Standardised receptive vocabulary assessment tool used in speech-language evaluation.
Microsoft Office
Productivity
Documentation, therapy reports, and patient record management.
SLP Toolkit
Clinical software
Digital tool for speech-language pathologists to manage caseloads and progress monitoring.
Articulation Assessment Toolkit
Assessment app
Mobile app for screening and diagnosing articulation disorders.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Speech therapy is only for children with stutters.
The field covers a wide range of conditions across all ages, including stroke recovery, swallowing disorders, and developmental communication delays.
It's the same as being a special needs teacher.
Speech and language therapists provide clinical assessment and treatment, distinct from the educational support role of special needs teachers, though the two often collaborate.