Summary
Chemists (KeSCO 2115) supports outcomes in the Science, Engineering & Built Environment sector by applying job-specific knowledge, standards, and tools to deliver quality services or outputs. Duties and complexity vary by employer, work setting, and seniority level, but the occupation generally requires reliability, competence, and continuous learning.
Minimum entry
Diploma or Bachelor’s degree
Future outlook
Future trends such as digital transformation, automation, climate resilience, and changing consumer needs are shaping most occupations. Workers who continuously upskill (digital literacy, quality standards, safety, customer service, and modern tools) are more resilient and competitive.
Sectors
Science, Engineering & Built EnvironmentProfessional ServicesPublic SectorPrivate SectorNGO/DevelopmentSpecialised Practice
Description
Chemists (KeSCO 2115) supports outcomes in the Science, Engineering & Built Environment sector by applying job-specific knowledge, standards, and tools to deliver quality services or outputs. Duties and complexity vary by employer, work setting, and seniority level, but the occupation generally requires reliability, competence, and continuous learning.
Employment prospects
Prospects depend on national and county demand, sector investment, policy priorities, and supply of trained workers. Job seekers improve prospects by gaining practical experience, building a portfolio or track record, earning relevant certifications, and being flexible on location and sub-sector.
Tasks
- Plan and prioritise daily work activities to meet targets and deadlines
- Follow workplace procedures, standards, and relevant regulations
- Carry out core job duties accurately and safely
- Use job tools/equipment/software correctly and maintain them appropriately
- Communicate progress, issues, and requirements with supervisors and colleagues
- Serve clients/customers professionally and resolve routine queries
- Document work completed, maintain records, and submit routine reports
- Identify errors, risks, or service gaps and propose improvements
- Work as part of a team and coordinate tasks across units
- Maintain confidentiality and ethical conduct where required
- Comply with occupational safety and health (OSH) guidelines
- Participate in training, mentoring, or continuous improvement activities
Skills
Communication (verbal and written) | Teamwork and collaboration | Problem-solving and critical thinking | Time management and prioritisation | Attention to detail and accuracy | Customer service orientation | Integrity and ethical conduct | Adaptability and continuous learning | Decision-making and judgement | Documentation and record-keeping | Digital literacy (basic) | Safety awareness and compliance mindset
Core skills
- Communication (verbal and written)
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving and critical thinking
- Time management and prioritisation
- Attention to detail and accuracy
- Customer service orientation
- Integrity and ethical conduct
- Adaptability and continuous learning
- Decision-making and judgement
- Documentation and record-keeping
- Digital literacy (basic)
- Safety awareness and compliance mindset
Technical skills
- Use of hand and power tools safely
- Installation, maintenance, and repair procedures
- Reading drawings/specifications and measurements
- Troubleshooting and fault diagnosis
- Quality control and workmanship standards
- Equipment handling and preventive maintenance
- Workplace safety and PPE usage
- Basic electrical/mechanical principles (as relevant)
- Material handling and storage
- Site readiness and task planning
- Compliance with standards and inspections
Transferable skills
- Leadership and supervision (as one progresses)
- Negotiation and stakeholder management
- Conflict resolution
- Presentation and public speaking
- Creativity and innovation
- Emotional intelligence
- Planning and organisation
- Resilience and stress management
- Service mindset and empathy
- Networking and relationship building
- Analytical thinking
- Professionalism and work discipline
Certifications
- Trade test / competency certification (where applicable)
- Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) certification (strongly recommended)
- Equipment-specific operator certification (where applicable)
- First Aid certification (recommended in many workplaces)
Education
Specialised degree in the relevant discipline | Graduate internship/attachments where applicable | Professional registration/licensing where regulated | Experience-based progression into senior/specialist roles
Pathways
- Specialised degree in the relevant discipline
- Graduate internship/attachments where applicable
- Professional registration/licensing where regulated
- Experience-based progression into senior/specialist roles
Relevant courses
- Diploma/Certificate in Electrical/Electronics Engineering
- Diploma/Certificate in Mechanical Engineering
- Civil/Construction Technology
- Welding and Fabrication
- Plumbing and Pipefitting
- Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
- Automotive Mechanics
- Plant/Machine Operation
- Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)
- CAD/Draughting basics
Institutions
- Universities (accredited public and private universities offering relevant programmes)
- National Polytechnics and TVET institutions (diploma, certificate, artisan programmes)
- Technical Training Institutes and Vocational Centres
- Professional Colleges and Accredited Training Academies
- Sector Training Authorities and Recognised Centres of Excellence
- Employer-based Academies and Apprenticeship Programmes
- Online Learning Platforms (supplementary; verify recognition for regulated fields)
- Industry Associations and Professional Bodies (short courses/CPD)
Minimum requirements
- Minimum education: Diploma or Bachelor’s degree
- Basic literacy and numeracy (reading, writing, and basic calculations)
- Good conduct, reliability, and professional behaviour
- Ability to follow instructions, procedures, and workplace rules
- Basic digital literacy where the role uses computers/phones
- Physical/medical fitness where the role is physically demanding or safety-sensitive
- Regulatory registration/licensing where required (profession-dependent)
- Background checks/clearance for sensitive roles where applicable
Work context
Workplace policies | Team collaboration | Quality standards | Professional environment | Standards compliance | Reporting
Where they work
- Public sector institutions, private companies, NGOs and community-based organisations depending on the sector.
Work setting
Not specified.
Schedule
Full-time commonDaytime hours commonDeadlines possible
Employment type
Formal employment possible
Earnings
Entry level
KES 50,000 – 120,000
Mid level
KES 120,000 – 250,000
Entry-level typical range (illustrative): KES 50,000 – 120,000 | Mid-level typical range (illustrative): KES 120,000 – 250,000 | Senior/experienced typical range (illustrative): KES 250,000+ | Earnings vary by employer (public/private), location, allowances, commissions, overtime, risk factors, and scarcity of skills
How to become one
Complete a degree in the relevant discipline, undertake internships or graduate programmes and meet any professional registration or licensing requirements.
Career progression
- Entry/Intern → Junior Practitioner → Mid-level → Senior Specialist
- Senior Specialist → Team Lead/Principal → Manager/Head of Unit (where applicable)
- Some pathways include consultancy, research, training, or policy roles
Related occupations
- Other occupations within the same KeSCO major group
- Support roles in the same sector/industry
- Supervisory roles related to this occupation’s work area
- Specialist variants of the same occupation (where they exist)
Occupation titles
2115-11 — Chemist
Chemist is responsible for conduct research, improve and develop concepts, theories and operational methods, or apply scientific knowledge relating to chemistry, mainly to test develop and improve materials, and industrial products and processes add new knowledge or products and for quality and process control within their professional field.
2115-17 — Chemist Industrial
Chemist Industrial is responsible for developing new products or processes based on laboratory research and analysis; testing new materials to determine their properties; conducting experiments to test the physical properties of chemical compounds conducting tests of new products or materials in simulated environments conducting scientific experiments to develop new products or improve existing ones within their professional field.
2115-24 — Chemist Inorganic
Chemist Inorganic is responsible for work in the science field to study the properties of inorganic chemical compounds; developing methods to recover metals from waste streams working as an analytical chemist in the analysis of mined ores performing research on the use of inorganic chemicals for treating soil within their professional field.
2115-22 — Chemist Quality Assurance
Chemist Quality Assurance is responsible for develops procedures for environmental control, quality control and various other procedures for manufacturers or users conducts programs of sample and data collection and analysis to identify and quantify environmental toxicants test products before, during, and after production coordinate waste management create thorough reports on tests and findings evaluate testing protocols and suggest improvements within their professional field.
2115-12 — Chemist, Analytical
Chemist, Analytical is responsible for assess the chemical structure and nature of substances prepare and analyze samples from various sources to provide information interpret data review and evaluate experiments and analyses present scientific results to relevant teams within their professional field.
2115-13 — Chemist, food
Chemist, food is responsible for testing food products to ensure that they meet safety standards preparing samples for analysis by measuring ingredients and mixing them according to instructions conducting research to develop better ways to preserve food or detect spoilage at an early stage investigate how different food interact with one another as well as their effects on human health and nutrition within their professional field.
2115-14 — Chemist, pharmaceutical
Chemist, pharmaceutical is responsible for researches, creates and improve chemical compounds for use as drugs within their professional field.
2115-15 — Chemist, physical
Chemist, physical is responsible for develops a fundamental understanding at the molecular and atomic level of how materials behave and how chemical reactions occur within their professional field.
2115-23 — Chemist, Pulp and Paper
Chemist, Pulp and Paper is responsible for determining ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials; preparing scientific papers and reports; improves the efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of the industrial paper making process within their professional field.
2115-16 — Chemist, textile
Chemist, textile is responsible for applies technical knowledge of chemistry to the production and manufacture of textiles such as clothes and furniture within their professional field.
2115-18 — Chemists Forensic Science
Chemists Forensic Science is responsible for performing research in order to develop new methods for testing drugs or other substances collecting samples from crime scenes and analyzing them to determine their chemical composition conducting examinations of physical evidence such as dna samples, fibers, hair samples, or blood samples for use in court cases reviewing existing scientific literature on topics relevant to their work within their professional field.
2115-21 — Chemists Organic
Chemists Organic is responsible for use micro organisms to convert substances into new compounds study the structure, properties, and reactions of molecules that contain carbon; design and make new organic substances that have unique properties and applications within their professional field.