Business

Diploma in Strategic Management

The Diploma in Strategic Management is offered by Maseno University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). It develops decision-making skills in learners through an understanding of organisational processes and operations, preparing them to deal with current and future strategic concerns of business institutions.

The curriculum covers practice of management, principles of accounts, personal development as a strategic manager, strategic marketing, organisational behaviour, total quality management, strategic information management, strategic project management, management information systems, cost accounting, and strategic planning.

Kenya's business environment is becoming increasingly competitive with globalisation, technological change, and regulatory evolution. Organisations across sectors require professionals who can analyse strategic environments, formulate competitive strategies, and implement strategic plans effectively.

Training at Maseno University and JKUAT combines classroom lectures with case studies, strategic management simulations, and research projects. The programme is offered on a full-time basis. Students engage with real business scenarios and develop strategic thinking capabilities.

Graduates work as strategic planning assistants, management trainees, project coordinators, business development officers, and quality management assistants with corporations, NGOs, government agencies, and consulting firms, with progression routes to degree programmes in business management or strategic management.

Skills RequiredStrategic Planning and AnalysisOrganisational Behaviour ManagementStrategic MarketingTotal Quality ManagementStrategic Project ManagementManagement Information SystemsCost Accounting and AnalysisBusiness Decision-MakingStrategic Information ManagementPersonal Development as a ManagerKey SubjectsPractice of ManagementPrinciples of AccountsPersonal Development as a Strategic ManagerIntroduction to Strategic MarketingOrganisational

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 108,634
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

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

What you study

10 subjects

Practice of Management
Principles of Accounts
Personal Development as a Strategic Manager
Introduction to Strategic Marketing
Organisational Behaviour
Total Quality Management
Strategic Information Management
Strategic Project Management
Management Information Systems
Foundations of Cost Accounting

Modules

10 in the programme

Personal Development and Strategic Marketing
Year 1Semester 18 creditsCore
Core unit on personal development as a strategic manager and introduction for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Practice of Management and Principles of Accounts
Year 1Semester 18 creditsCore
Core unit covering management principles, functions, and practices 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.
Entrepreneurship Education
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Business planning and enterprise skills for enterprise development, business planning, and venture creation skills.
Organisational Behaviour and Total Quality Management
Year 1Semester 28 creditsCore
Core unit on organisational behaviour, motivation, leadership for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Strategic Information and Project Management
Year 1Semester 28 creditsCore
Core unit on strategic information management systems and strategic project for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Strategic Planning and Implementation
Year 2Semester 18 creditsCore
Core unit on strategic planning processes, strategy formulation for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Management Information Systems and Cost Accounting
Year 2Semester 18 creditsCore
Core unit on management information systems for strategic decision-making for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Business Law and Ethics
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Unit on business law, corporate governance, and ethical considerations in for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Strategic Management Research Project
Year 2Semester 210 creditsCore
Core unit involving a supervised research project applying strategic for professional practice and competency development in the field.

Specialisations

Strategic Planning
Formulating and implementing strategic plans, conducting environmental analysis, and setting organisational direction, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Strategic Marketing
Developing marketing strategies aligned with organisational goals and competitive positioning, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Total Quality Management
Implementing quality management systems and continuous improvement processes in organisations, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Strategic Project Management
Managing projects with strategic alignment to organisational objectives and long-term goals, 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 combines lectures on management principles, strategic marketing, or organisational behaviour with case study discussions analysing real business scenarios. Students participate in strategic management simulations, work on group projects developing strategic plans, and present their analyses. Guest lectures by business leaders supplement classroom learning.

The trade offs

In its favour

Develops strategic thinking applicable across all sectors and organisation sizes.
Offered at reputable public universities (Maseno, JKUAT) with CUE accreditation.
Provides a pathway to degree programmes in business management or strategic management.

Against it

Relatively high tuition fees compared to TVET diploma programmes.
Entry-level strategic management roles may require additional experience or qualifications.

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

Public109k to 109k

109k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology109k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

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

JKUAT 217,267/4sem=~108,634/yr (jkuat.ac.ke). Maseno offers, fee unverified. Private: unverified.

Students are eligible for HELB loans, university scholarships and bursaries, and county government bursaries.

Funding options

HELB Loan
University Scholarships and Bursaries
County Government Bursaries

Scholarships

3 recorded

University Bursaries
BursaryKsh 30,000Kenyan
Needy students enrolled at Maseno University or JKUAT.
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Needy students from respective counties.
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in recognised diploma programmes at accredited institutions.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C
Alternative entry: KCSE C- with a Certificate from Maseno University or other recognised institution, or equivalent qualifications.

How you are assessed

3 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Regular tests, assignments, case study analyses, and class participation assessed throughout the programme.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination50% of the mark
Written theory examinations at the end of each semester covering all units taken.
Research Project
Project20% of the mark
A supervised strategic management research project applying frameworks to a real organisational scenario.

Accreditation

Offered by Maseno University and JKUAT, both accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) as university-level diploma programmes.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Accredits university programmes in Kenya including the Diploma in Strategic Management at Maseno University and JKUAT.
Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA)
Qualifications recognitionRequired
Recognises the qualification within the Kenya National Qualifications Framework.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Strategic Planning Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 85,000
Supports strategic planning processes including environmental analysis, strategy formulation, and performance monitoring.
Management Trainee
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 90,000
Participates in structured management training programmes across business functions in corporate organisations.
Business Development Officer
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 80,000
Identifies and develops new business opportunities, conducts market analysis, and supports strategic growth initiatives.
Project Coordinator
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 80,000
Coordinates project activities aligned with organisational strategy, ensuring timely delivery and stakeholder communication.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as strategic planning assistants, management trainees, and business development officers with corporations, NGOs, and consulting firms.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Strategic Analysis Frameworks
MethodologyPrimary
SWOT, PESTEL, Porter's Five Forces, and BCG Matrix frameworks for strategic analysis and decision-making.
Business Intelligence Tools
Software
Data analytics and reporting tools for strategic decision-making and performance monitoring.
Project Management Software
SoftwarePrimary
Tools like MS Project, Asana, or Trello for planning, tracking, and managing strategic projects.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Strategic management is only for large corporations.
Strategic management principles apply to organisations of all sizes including SMEs, NGOs, and public sector institutions.
Strategic management is the same as general management.
Strategic management focuses specifically on long-term planning, competitive positioning, and organisational direction, while general management covers day-to-day operations.
You need extensive work experience to study strategic management.
The diploma is designed for both entry-level learners and working professionals, developing strategic thinking from foundational principles.
Strategic management qualifications have limited job prospects.
Every organisation needs strategic thinking, creating opportunities across corporate, NGO, government, and consulting sectors.