Cyber security courses in Kenya [and where to pursue them]

Last updated on October 3rd, 2023 at 09:53 am

Admittedly, there are still not many institutions offering high quality cyber security courses in Kenya.

But we have a few colleges doing an exemplary job training the next generation of cyber security engineers.

These are our focus in this article plus the cyber security courses they currently offer.

Cyber security courses in Kenya and the colleges to check out including Universities offering cyber security in Kenya

Here are the best cyber security courses in Kenya (including diploma in cyber security course in Kenya).

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

This is one of the foremost cyber security certification in the industry and a must-have for anyone aspiring to build a career in IT security.

The course covers 19 of the most critical security domains that any ethical hacker should be familiar with when setting up an organization’s information security system and is tested by the EC council(International Council of Electronic Commerce Consultants), a global leader when it comes to Cyber Security education.

You have to pass EC-Council’s demanding Certified Ethical Hacker exam to get the certificate.

Duration of study

6-9 months

Requirements

The course is open but you need to have a thorough understanding of computer networking, a bit of coding, and information security theory.

Where to take the certified ethical hacker course in Kenya

1. Computer pride learning centre, JKUAT Tower, Nairobi, along Kenyatta Avenue. Call 0705 900 900 or email: info@computer-pride.co.ke
2. AFRALTI (African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institute), Waiyaki Way, next to Nairobi Water Company. Call 0710-207061 or email: info@afralti.org
3. iLabAfrica, Strathmore University, Makadara, Nairobi Call:0711 416 998 or email: ilabitsecurity@strathmore.edu

How much does the certified ethical hacker course cost in Kenya?

The course doesn’t come cheap and you have to cough up between shs.50000-shs.70000 depending on the institution. Plus, you have to set aside about $500 for the final exam.

 

Certified information Security Manager(CISM)

CISM is highly valued in the Kenyan market and it can open many doors for you in the future.

The course demonstrates you have the necessary knowledge and experience to deploy super-effective security management services.

Indeed, those who earn the CISM certification join an elite group of cyber security professionals who sit at the apex of information security functions in both the private and public sectors.

It’s one of the best cyber security courses in Kenya for those who harbor dreams of rising to head IT security teams in their firms.

The course is tested by ISACA (Information Systems Audit and Control Association) and covers the following domains:

• Information Security Governance
• Information Risk Management
• Information Security Programs Development
• Information Security Programs Management
• Incident Management & Response

Duration of study

9-12 months

Requirements

You must have at least 5 years of IT security experience, 3 of which must have been at a management level.

Where to take the CISM course in Kenya

1. KCA University, Thika Super Highway. Call 0710 888022 or email: callcentre@kca.ac.ke
2. Strathmore University cyber security training department, Makadara, Nairobi Call:0711 416 998 or email: admissions@strathmore.edu

How much does the C.I.S.M course cost in Kenya?

The course will again cost you a pretty penny. For the exam, you should budget Kshs 50,000+ while tuition can set you back Kshs.60000-100000 on average.

CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor) course

When it comes to cyber security training in Kenya, we recommend CISA for the following individuals:

• IS (information security) consultants
• IS (information security) Security & Control professionals.
• Chief IS (Information Systems) Officers
• CEOs
• Accountants who wish to venture into systems security
• Information Systems Auditors
• Internal & External Auditors.

The technical skills, expertise, and practices acquired in the CISA program, tested by ISACA enable you to invent and establish controls to counter various types of threats.

Duration of study

9-12 months

Requirements for CISA cyber security certification in Kenya

Like CISM, you must have at least 5 years of IT security experience, 3 of which must have been at a management level to pursue CISA.

Where to take the CISA course in Kenya

1. KCA University, Thika Super Highway. Call 0710 888022 or email: callcentre@kca.ac.ke
2. Strathmore University, Makadara, Nairobi Call:0711 416 998 or email: admissions@strathmore.edu

How much does the C.I.S.A course cost in Kenya?

The course has a similar fee structure to CISM. Budget Kshs 50,000+ for tests while tuition averages Kshs.60000-100000.

More cyber crime courses in Kenya

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

The CISSP is another globally recognized cyber security certification for those who desire to establish a career as an IT security professional and is the first information security course to satisfy the tough requirements of the ISO/IEC Standard 17024.

CISSP training covers every area of ICT security and will help you achieve your goal of becoming a top-rated information security professional.

CISSP is recommended for individuals at the intermediate stage of their careers including IT security consultants/managers, ICT directors/managers, IS security auditors/architects, system security engineers, CIOs, and more.

It’s examined by ISC², an internationally recognized not-for-profit operating in the IT security field.

 

Duration of study for this certificate in cyber security in Kenya

40 hours (1 week crash program) in some colleges but can be several months if you’re a part-time student.

Pre-requisite

5 years of ICT security experience (full time).

Where to take the CISSP course in Kenya

1. AFRALTI (African-Advanced-Level-Telecommunications-Institute), Waiyaki Way, next to the Nairobi Water Company. Call 0710-207061 or email: info@afralti.org
2. Techno Brain Training Kenya (New Horizons), EcoBank Towers, Muindi Mbingu Street. Call 0733-600 316

 

How much does the C.I.S.S.P course cost in Kenya?

CISSP training costs Kshs.50000-100000 on average.

 

CCNA Security CISCO certification Kenya

A CCNA Security certification shows that you’re more than a network professional and you can develop a robust security infrastructure, recognize assorted threats and vulnerabilities, and mitigate security threats too.

Overall, this is a nice addition for those who have completed the CCNA certification at any of the cisco centres in Nairobi or elsewhere in the country.

Duration of study

1 month.

Pre-requisite

CCNA

Where to take the CCNA Security course in Kenya

1. AFRALTI (African-Advanced-Level-Telecommunications-Institute), Waiyaki Way, next to the Nairobi Water Company. Call 0710-207061 or email: info@afralti.org
2. Techno Brain Training Kenya (New Horizons), EcoBank Towers, Muindi Mbingu Street. Call 0733-600 316
3. Computer pride learning centre, JKUAT Tower , Nairobi, along Kenyatta Avenue. Call 0705 900 900 or email: info@computer-pride.co.ke
4. Kenyatta university CISCO Networking academy at the various campuses
5. JKUAT cyber security training section.

 

How much does the CCNA Security course cost in Kenya?

CISSP training costs Kshs.25000-50000.

 

Diploma in Cyber Security (Cyber security diploma course in Kenya)

Another cyber security course in Kenya that can help you compete for cyber security jobs in Kenya is the Diploma in Cyber security.

The problem is, no local college is accredited by the government to deliver this program meaning you have to rely on foreign accreditations.

But it’s not all gloom as a Kenyan institution, the Institute of Software Technology(IST) has partnered with the ATL Foundation to teach this course in Nairobi.

ATL is endorsed by the IADL (International Association for Distance Learning) as well as the USDLA (United States Distance Learning Association) so you’ll be getting a credible paper.

If that doesn’t sound like a deal, explore international institutions like Toronto School of Management.

Needless to say, you need to have enough money if you choose this path.

 

 

CompTIA Security+

This is a globally recognized ICT security certification that validates your foundational skills and proves that you’re competent enough to undertake core security functions in a firm.

It’s a good beginner course and perhaps the best starting point for new students or other IT staff interested in getting baseline skills in computer security.

Here you need to pass the CompTIA Security+ exam to be certified.

Be sure to combine it with advanced certifications like CISM and CEH if you want to become attractive to employers.

Requirements

None, but you must have passed the CompTIA A+ and Network+ exams, or possess equivalent knowledge.

In addition, it’s preferred that you have about six-nine months of practical experience in networking (especially in configuring security parameters).

Duration of study

1-3 months

Where to take the CompTIA Security+ course in Kenya

Schools offering cyber security courses by COMPTIA include:

1. Computer pride, JKUAT Tower , Nairobi, along Kenyatta Avenue. Call 0705 900 900 or email: info@computer-pride.co.ke
2. Techno Brain Training Kenya (New Horizons), EcoBank Towers, Muindi Mbingu Street. Call 0733-600 316

How much does the CompTIA Security+ course cost in Kenya?

Fees vary but like most COMPTIA network security courses in Kenya, it starts at shs.35000. Meanwhile, the exam fee is at the present set at $339.

Degree in cyber security in Kenya and Universities offering cyber security in Kenya

If you have a C+ and above (in your KCSE), a degree in cyber security in Kenya could be a great course.

Below are the Universities offering cyber security in Kenya:

• Strathmore University
• KCA University
• Multimedia University

ALSO READ:

Cyber security degree in kenya requirements and best universities for cyber security in Kenya

Masters in Computer Security in Kenya (masters in cyber security in Kenya)

If you wish to advance your knowledge, consider taking the masters in information security course at Strathmore University.

The masters in cyber security program is designed for Penetration Testers, Chief Information Officers, Information Security Architects, Network Security engineers, Incident Responders, and Forensic Experts in the Defense forces, Police Service and private/public security enterprises.

The cost may rise above shs.2 Million considering that its taught in partnership with a Spanish University and could involve spending time in Spain.

 

Cyber security courses in Kenya [mostly for beginners]

Here are more non-specialized Cyber security courses in Kenya.

These courses are ideal for those who want to gain general knowledge about IT security practices and standards.

Note that these do not have a high demand among cyber security firms in Kenya as some of those we reviewed above.

 

Digital Forensics Certification Kenya

This is a local cyber security course by the Kenya cybersecurity forensics association and is best for those who want to master digital forensics (preservation, identification, retrieval, and documentation of computer-based evidence concerning cyber crimes).

The fee was shs.25000 last time I checked and the training was running for 3 Saturdays.

 

Certified Secure Computer User(CSCU)

This again comes from the EC-Council and will educate you on how to protect your information assets.

As mentioned earlier, this is a fundamental course for those who want to learn how to detect diverse computer/network security threats like credit card fraud, identity theft, virus and backdoors, phishing scams, emails hoaxes, and more.

Contact Computer Pride if you wish to take the course.

 

Cyber security courses in Kenya –Helpful organizations

Just like cryptography courses in Kenya, students pursuing cyber crime courses should join professional organizations in this area.

This will help you meet industry leaders, network, and possibly make connections that can help you secure a job soon after graduating.

Now, one of the first institutions to come to mind is KCSFA (Kenya cybersecurity forensics association).

This brings together IT security experts in Kenya and can be a good platform to interact with the gurus.

The others you should consider are:

Kenya professional society of criminology– This is a non-partisan and nonprofit making organization bringing together professionals actively engaged in Criminology including cybercrime.

ISACA Kenya- this is the association to be in if you’re studying for an ISACA certification. You will meet mentors and a supportive group of IT security pioneers in Kenya here.

 

Cybersecurity Internship in Kenya

Obviously, it’s critical that you attend internship in the course of your studies or immediately you graduate.

It will help you hone your skills and even land a job if you prove yourself during the industrial attachment period.

You should consider the following firms when searching for cybersecurity internship in Kenya.

• Safaricom
• Ernest and Young.
• Various Banks in Kenya.
• National Intelligence service(NIS).
• SACCOS in Kenya.

Wrapping it up

There goes our list of recommended Cyber security courses in Kenya.

As you have noted, we still don’t have a specialized degree in cyber security in Kenya like it is the case in other nations.

For this reason, the best way to become a cyber security expert in Kenya is by first enrolling for a Diploma or Degree in ICT (or computer science) then registering for the certification courses we have mentioned in this guide.

Specifically, you can target COMPTIA Security+, CEH, and CISA.

With these 3 plus a 3-6 month internship, you should be good to go.

Of course, you can take up more programs if your budget and time allow.

Note that the demand for cyber security experts is expected to continue soaring across the globe as criminals become more clever meaning that you have a great opportunity to make tons of money with the right skills.

Good luck.

PS: Meru University is offering a BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER SECURITY AND FORENSICS locally so consider joining them, if you want to pursue a degree in Cyber security in Kenya. Here is the link.

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