The Rift Valley National Polytechnic (RVNP) is a public TVET institution established by Legal Notice No. 7 of 2024, also known as the Rift Valley National Polytechnic Order, 2024, per the TVET Act guidelines. It is registered and regulated by TVETA. It is the successor to the Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology (RVIST).
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Rift Valley National Polytechnic is one of the leading national polytechnics in the country, with a student population of approximately 10,000. It is located 10 Kilometres west of Nakuru town, along the Nakuru-Njoro Road, Nakuru County.
As a national polytechnic, the National Poly and TVET Acts legally allow the training and awarding of certificates for artisan, craft, diploma, and higher diploma-level courses. It can also collaborate with universities and other educational institutions to offer undergraduate courses.
With the new CBET courses, the polytechnic is mandated to develop curricula as per industry needs, as well as train, assess, and issue certificates.
Rift Valley National Polytechnic has different curriculum departments that offer a variety of courses. The departments include:
- Agriculture and Mechanical Engineering
- Agriculture and Environmental Studies
- Building And Civil Engineering
- Health and Applied Sciences
- Business Studies
- ICT & Computer Studies
- Hospitality and Tourism
- Electrical and Electronics
- Liberal Studies
RVNP’s mission and vision
Mission:
To develop competent, dependable, innovative, and creative human resource that suits dynamic, technological trends for sustainable development.
Vision:
To be a center of excellence for quality technical research and development for self-reliance and industrialization in the region.
Rift Valley National Poly Contact Details
Postal Address: P.O. BOX 7182-20100 Nakuru, Kenya
Website:rvnp.ac.ke
Email: principal@rvnp.ac.ke
Mobile:+254720668238 or +254742442161
Where is Rift Valley NP located?
Rift Valley National Polytechnic (RVNP) is located 10 Kilometres west of Nakuru town, along the Nakuru-Njoro Road, Nakuru County.
Rift Valley National Polytechnic Intakes
The institute has 3 intakes within the year to align with the Ministry of Education, state department of Technical and Vocational Training requirements. The intakes are in January, May, and September of every year. However, inquiries can be made anytime within working hours using the contact details or by visiting the polytechnic. It also offers short courses that can be done during the holiday period.
Fee structure and sponsorship
Students are required to pay tuition fees, which must be paid upon reporting to the polytechnic. Other payable fees are student ID, student welfare, among others. Examination fees are paid separately from tuition and the amount depends on the course, the examination body, and the current student’s year of study.
However, the Ministry of Education, Kenya, has guided all public TVET institutions to charge a fee of Kshs 67,189 per academic year.
The government, through the Ministry of Education, gives capitation to subsidize tuition fees for students in public TVET institutions. Please note that it is not automatic to get the scholarship using the new funding model, but students must apply. Students should also apply for HELB loans, constituency bursaries, and other sources to facilitate fee payment.
The government has developed a new funding model for tertiary and university students, weighing on the level of neediness of individual students.
For more details on fee payment and how to pay, please contact the polytechnic.
Course requirements at Rift Valley National Poly
The course entry requirements to join Rift Valley Poly are determined by the Ministry of Education, but the polytechnic can include subject clusters to filter applicants when the need arises. This mostly arises if there are more applicants than the polytechnic can handle.
For general engineering and business diploma courses (Level 6), students require a minimum of a C- and above in KCSE or a craft certificate in the respective course.
To qualify for the Craft certificate (Level 5), a grade of D plain and D+ in KCSE is required, or a pass in artisan in the area of interest.
To undertake the Artisan course (Level 4), you must have a KCPE or KCSE mean grade of D- and E.
During admission, you will be required to submit documents such as KCPE and KCSE results, birth certificate, medical letter, filled application form, and a passport-size picture, among other documents, for verification.
Courses offered at Rift Valley Polytechnic.
The Polytechnic offers a variety of courses in its academic departments, including higher diplomas, diplomas, crafts, and artisan courses. KNEC, CDACC, NITA, or KASNEB external examining bodies examine these courses. The Rift Valley National Poly also examines their CBET courses and issues their certificates. The courses offered are.
| THE RIFT VALLEY NATIONAL POLYTECHNIC DIPLOMA, CRAFT AND ARTISAN COURSES |
| DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES |
| Agricultural Extension – Level 5, 6 |
| Dairy Management – Level 5 |
| Horticulture Production – Level 5, 6 |
| Sustainable Agriculture – Level 5, 6 |
| Aquaculture – Level 6 |
| DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING |
| Agricultural Engineering – Level 5, 6 |
| Agriculture Machinery & Equipment – Level 4, 5, 6 |
| Automotive Technology – Level 5 |
| Automotive Engineering – Level 6 |
| Welding & Fabrication – Level 4 |
| Mechanical Production Technology – Level 5 |
| DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING |
| Building Technology – Level 5, 6 |
| Carpentry & Joinery – Level 4, 5 |
| Water Technology – Level 6 |
| Land Surveying – Level 5, 6 |
| Architectural Draftsman – Level 5 |
| Architecture – Level 6 |
| Civil Engineering– Level 6 |
| Quantity Surveying – Level 6 |
| Waste Water & Sanitation – Level 6 |
| Water Engineering – Level 6 |
| Plumbing – Level 5,6 |
| DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS STUDIES |
| Accountancy plus QuickBooks – Level 6 |
| Banking & Finance plus QuickBooks – Level 6 |
| Business Mgt with ICT – Level 5, 6 |
| Cooperative Mgt with ICT – Level 5 |
| Human Resource Mgt – Level 5 |
| Office Administration (Secretarial) with ICT – Level 5 |
| Office Administration (Secretarial) with ICT – Level 6 |
| Supply Chain Mgt with ICT – Level 5, 6 |
| Store Keeping Mgt with ICT – Level 5 |
| Road Transport Mgt with ICT – Level 5, 6 |
| Project Mgt with ICT – Level 5, 6 |
| Investment Mgt with ICT – Level 6 |
| DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS |
| Electronics Engineering – Level 5, 6 |
| Electrical Engineering (Power Option) – Level 6 |
| HEALTH AND APPLIED SCIENCES DEPARTMENT |
| Nutrition & Dietetics – Level 5, 6 |
| Science Laboratory – Level 5, 6 |
| Applied Biology – Level 6 |
| Analytical Chemistry – Level 6 |
| Medical Engineering – Level 6 |
| Food Technology – Level 6 |
| Health Records & IT – Level 5, 6 |
| DEPARTMENT OF HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM |
| Baking Technology – Level 5, 6 |
| Fashion Design – Level 4, 5 |
| Fashion Design Mgt – Level 6 |
| Food & Beverage Production (Culinary Arts) – Level 4, 5 |
| Food & Beverage Sales and Service Manager – Level 6 |
| Hair Dressing – Level 4, 5 |
| Beauty Therapy – Level 4,5 |
| House Keeping & Accommodation – Level 5, 6 |
| Tourism & Travel Mgt – Level 5, 6 |
| Tour Guide Operations – Level 5 |
| Catering & Accommodation Mgt – Level 5, 6 |
| Tourism Management – Level 5, 6 |
| DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY |
| Library & Information Science – Level 5, 6 |
| Computer Science – Level 6 |
| ICT Technician – Level 5, 6 |
| DEPARTMENT OF LIBERAL STUDIES |
| Counselling Psychology – Level 5, 6 |
| Social Work & Community Development – Level 5, 6 |
Hostel and accommodation in Rift Valley National Poly
Rift Valley Polytechnic offers hostel service within the institute on a first-come basis for males and females. However, if you don’t get accommodated within the polytechnic hostels, there are plenty of hostels within walking distance for students.
Rift Valley Polytechnic student portal
The student and staff portal is used by registered students and institute staff to access online services. Some of the services that the student can access from the portal are online reporting, hostel booking, fee statements, fee structures, and internal examination results, among other services.
To use the student portal, you need to visit the RVNP portal and register yourself using your student admin number. Click to open the Rift Valley Polytechnic student portal, sign up, and log in. In case of any challenges, contact the institute for help.