Why KIPS Is the Best ICT & Computer College in Nairobi (2026)
IT, networking, software development and graphic design — the School of ICT that tops our new Nairobi computer colleges ranking.
Nairobi calls itself the Silicon Savannah, and the label is earned — but the tech economy's hiring reality is broader than the startup headlines. For every machine-learning role there are dozens of openings for network technicians, IT support officers, junior developers and graphic designers. Training that cadre is mid-level ICT education's job, and in our new Top 10 Best ICT & Computer Colleges in Nairobi ranking, the School of ICT at KIPS Technical College takes first position. This review sets out why.
KIPS School of ICT — Ranking Kenya Assessment
Reviewed against Nairobi's mid-level ICT training market — July 2026.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Course Range & Currency | 4.9 |
| Accreditation (KNEC, ICM) | 5.0 |
| Computer Labs & Practical Work | 4.8 |
| Flexible & Online Delivery | 4.9 |
| Attachment & Job Pipeline | 4.8 |
| Fees & Accessibility | 4.8 |
| Overall | 4.8 / 5.0 |
Ranking Kenya Verdict: Nairobi's most dependable route from any KCSE grade into an employable ICT credential — certificate and diploma programmes that employers recognise, taught on campuses students can actually reach, at fees they can actually pay.
The ICT Course Portfolio
The School of ICT covers the full mid-level tech stack:
- Information Technology & Computer Science — KNEC certificate and diploma tracks, the backbone credential for IT support and administration roles.
- Networking — LAN/WAN fundamentals through to network administration, feeding the ISP and corporate-IT hiring market.
- Software Development — programming foundations and application development for students targeting junior developer roles.
- Graphic Design — the trade that quietly employs more young Nairobians than any other digital skill, from agency work to the gig economy.
Entry is genuinely open: certificate programmes accept modest KCSE grades and ladder into diplomas — the same progression architecture we describe in Best Courses Without a KCSE C+. For students comparing this against a university CS degree, our diploma vs degree analysis runs the actual arithmetic.
Delivery: Labs, Evening Classes and the Virtual Campus
ICT is a practical discipline, and KIPS teaches it in equipped computer labs across its five Nairobi campuses — Donholm, Philadelphia House opposite Afya Centre, KPCU, KTDA House on Tom Mboya Street, and Kasarani. The timetable architecture is built for real Nairobi lives: full-time day classes for school leavers, evening sessions for working students, and — through the School of Virtual & Distance Learning — fully online certificate and diploma options with an e-learning platform behind them.
That online capability puts KIPS in rare company among Nairobi's mid-level colleges, and it is a large part of why the institution features prominently in our article on evening classes and online study in Nairobi.
Outcomes: Exams, Attachment and Employability
KIPS reports national examination pass rates above 95%, and its attachment machinery — 2,000+ placements — extends fully to ICT students, who serve in IT departments, agencies and telco-adjacent businesses across Nairobi. The combination matters: a KNEC diploma proves knowledge, but the attachment record is what converts certificates into first salaries. Since 1994, the institution has graduated over 30,000 students into exactly this pipeline.
KIPS ICT — Frequently Asked Questions
Which computer courses does KIPS offer?
IT, computer science, networking, software development and graphic design at certificate and diploma level, examined by KNEC and ICM. See the School of ICT page for current intakes.
Can I study ICT at KIPS online?
Yes — selected certificate and diploma programmes run through the School of Virtual & Distance Learning with a dedicated e-learning platform, alongside evening classes at all five Nairobi campuses.
What KCSE grade do I need for a computer course at KIPS?
Certificate programmes accept modest grades (D range), and completing a certificate qualifies you for the diploma tier — so there is a route into ICT from virtually any KCSE result.
Final Thoughts
ICT training in Nairobi ranges from world-class to worthless, often at the same fee level. KIPS earns our top rating by pairing recognised credentials (KNEC, ICM) with practical labs, a genuine attachment pipeline and the fee flexibility that lets ordinary Kenyan students actually finish. The full institutional context — campuses, welfare, 30,000-graduate track record — is in our flagship KIPS review.
Course listings and intake dates are on the KIPS School of ICT page; applications go through online registration. If you are still weighing career direction, our guide on choosing the right TVET course puts ICT alongside the alternatives honestly.