Art and Design

Diploma in Textile Technician

Textile Technician Level 6 is a TVET CDACC-accredited diploma programme listed on KUCCPS under the Clothing, Fashion and Textile cluster. It trains textile technology professionals in fabric manufacturing processes, yarn production, weaving, knitting, textile testing, and textile production management.

The curriculum was developed by TVET CDACC under the CBET framework and covers technical drawing, engineering mathematics, mechanical science, fluid mechanics, material science, textile testing, yarn production (spinning), woven fabric production (weaving), knitted fabric production, nonwoven fabric production, textile fabric processing, and textile production process management.

Kenya's textile and apparel sector is a significant contributor to manufacturing and exports, supported by the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preferences. The Export Processing Zones (EPZ) host numerous textile factories producing garments for export, creating demand for qualified textile technicians.

Training is offered at institutions including Eldoret National Polytechnic and other TVETA-accredited institutions with textile workshops. The programme combines classroom theory with extensive practical sessions using spinning wheels, looms, testing equipment, and fabric samples. Industrial attachment at textile factories is a core component.

Graduates work as textile technicians, quality control specialists, production supervisors, and textile testing officers in textile mills, garment factories, EPZ companies, and quality assurance laboratories, with progression routes to degree programmes in textile engineering or fashion design.

Skills RequiredTextile Yarn Production (Spinning)Woven Fabric Production (Weaving)Knitted Fabric ProductionNonwoven Fabric ProductionTextile Testing and Quality ControlTextile Fabric ProcessingTextile Production Process ManagementTechnical Drawing InterpretationMaterial Science ApplicationOccupational Safety in Textile ProductionKey SubjectsTechnical Drawing for TextilesEngineering Mathematics and Mechanical ScienceFluid Mechanics and Material ScienceTextile Testing and Quality ControlYarn Production (Spinning)Woven Fabric Production

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 67,189
Private, up to: Ksh 28,000
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: 25 students
Award: Diploma

What you study

10 subjects

Technical Drawing for Textiles
Engineering Mathematics and Mechanical Science
Fluid Mechanics and Material Science
Textile Testing and Quality Control
Yarn Production (Spinning)
Woven Fabric Production (Weaving)
Knitted and Nonwoven Fabric Production
Textile Fabric Processing and Finishing
Textile Production Process Management
Occupational Safety and Health in Textiles

Modules

10 in the programme

Communication Skills, ICT and Entrepreneurship
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Common units covering communication skills, digital literacy for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Information Communication Technology
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Computer applications and digital literacy for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Life Skills
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Personal development and interpersonal skills for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Technical Drawing and Engineering Science
Year 1Semester 18 creditsCore
Core unit on technical drawing for textiles, engineering mathematics for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Material Science and Fluid Mechanics
Year 1Semester 18 creditsCore
Core unit on textile material science, fibre properties, fluid mechanics for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Woven and Knitted Fabric Production
Year 1Semester 210 creditsCore
Core unit on weaving technology, loom operations, knitting principles for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Yarn Production and Spinning Technology
Year 1Semester 210 creditsCore
Core unit on yarn production processes including carding, drawing for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Textile Testing and Quality Control
Year 2Semester 18 creditsCore
Core unit on textile testing methods, quality standards, fabric inspection for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Nonwoven Fabric and Textile Processing
Year 2Semester 18 creditsCore
Core unit on nonwoven fabric production methods, textile finishing processes for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Production Management and Industrial Attachment
Year 2Semester 210 creditsCore
Core unit on textile production management, occupational safety for professional practice and competency development in the field.

Specialisations

Yarn Production (Spinning)
Producing textile yarn from raw fibres through carding, drawing, and spinning processes, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Woven Fabric Production (Weaving)
Producing woven fabrics using looms, including warp preparation, weaving patterns, and fabric inspection, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Textile Testing and Quality Control
Testing textile materials for strength, colour fastness, dimensional stability, and other quality parameters, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Textile Production Management
Managing textile production processes, scheduling, quality assurance, and production optimisation, 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 theory lectures on textile science, material properties, or production processes with practical workshop sessions. Students operate spinning equipment, weave fabric on looms, test fabric quality using standardised methods, and learn textile finishing techniques. Industrial visits to textile factories and EPZ garment plants provide exposure to commercial production environments.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's textile sector benefits from AGOA trade preferences and EPZ investment, creating employment opportunities.
Specialised technical skills in high demand within textile manufacturing and quality assurance.
Practical workshop training with spinning, weaving, and testing equipment.

Against it

Textile factories are concentrated in specific regions (EPZ, Eldoret), which may limit geographic flexibility.
AGOA trade preferences are subject to periodic renewal and geopolitical factors.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 73 art and design courses

Public67k to 67k

67k at Kabete National Polytechnic67k at Kabete National Polytechnic

Private28k to 28k

28k at St. Paul's University TVET Institute28k at St. Paul's University TVET Institute

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

NTTI 18.5K/term; pub TVET 67,189/yr (businessradar). St Paul's TVET 28K/yr (spu.ac.ke).

Students are eligible for HELB TVET loans (up to KSH 40,000), government capitation (KSH 30,000/year), and county bursaries.

Funding options

HELB TVET Loan
Government TVET Capitation (KSH 30,000/year)
County Government Bursaries

Scholarships

3 recorded

County Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Needy students from respective counties.
Government TVET Capitation
GrantKsh 30,000Kenyan
All KUCCPS-placed students in public TVET institutions.
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited TVET programmes.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C-
Alternative entry: Level 5 Certificate in Textile Technology or related field from a recognised institution.

How you are assessed

3 components

CDACC External Assessment
Examination60% of the mark
External assessment conducted by TVET CDACC at the end of each unit of competency.
Internal Continuous Assessment
Coursework20% of the mark
Continuous assessment by trainers including tests, workshop practicals, and project assignments.
Industrial Attachment Assessment
Practical20% of the mark
Supervised industrial attachment at a textile factory, assessed through supervisor reports and portfolio.

Accreditation

Accredited by the TVET Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council (TVET CDACC) under the CBET framework at Level 6. The programme is listed on KUCCPS.

Accredited by

TVET Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council (TVET CDACC)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory body for CBET curriculum development, assessment and certification of textile technician programme.
Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA)
Qualifications recognitionRequired
Recognises the Level 6 qualification within the Kenya National Qualifications Framework.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Textile Technician
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 75,000
Operates and maintains textile production machinery including spinning, weaving, and knitting equipment.
Quality Control Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 80,000
Tests textile materials for quality parameters, conducts fabric inspections, and ensures compliance with standards.
Production Supervisor
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 85,000
Supervises textile production lines, manages operators, and ensures production targets and quality standards are met.
Textile Testing Officer
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 70,000
Conducts laboratory tests on textile materials, prepares test reports, and maintains testing equipment.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as textile technicians, quality control specialists, and production supervisors in textile mills, garment factories, and EPZ companies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Spinning Equipment
EquipmentPrimary
Carding machines, drawing frames, roving frames, and ring or open-end spinning machines for yarn production.
Weaving Looms
EquipmentPrimary
Hand looms and power looms for producing woven fabrics with various weave patterns.
Textile Testing Instruments
Equipment
Tensile testers, colour fastness testers, abrasion testers, and other instruments for fabric quality testing.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Textile technology is about fashion design.
Textile technology focuses on the technical processes of fabric manufacturing including spinning, weaving, knitting, and testing, while fashion design focuses on garment design and construction.
The textile industry is declining in Kenya.
Kenya's textile sector benefits from AGOA trade preferences and EPZ investment, with ongoing growth in export-oriented textile manufacturing.
Textile technicians only work in textile mills.
Graduates work in diverse settings including textile testing laboratories, quality assurance departments, garment factories, and research institutions.
Textile technology is low-tech manual work.
Modern textile production uses advanced machinery, computerised looms, automated quality testing, and digital pattern systems, making it a technology-driven field.