Unit Group (L4) 2153

2153 — Chemical Engineers and Technologists

Browse this Unit Group profile and explore linked occupation titles.

L4 CODE: 2153
2 PROFESSIONALS → 21 Science and Engineering Professionals → 215 Engineering Professionals (Excluding Electro technology)
Summary
Chemical Engineers and Technologists (KeSCO 2153) 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
Chemical Engineers and Technologists (KeSCO 2153) 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
Senior level
KES 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
2153-23 — Chemical Analyst, industrial production
Chemical Analyst, industrial production is responsible for perform analyses of various raw materials related to fertilizers (e determine the sample contents using various instruments; conduct research and advise on, and develop commercial scale chemical processes to refine crude oil specify chemical production methods, materials and quality standards and ensure conformity to specifications; perform laboratory studies of steps in manufacture of new products and testing proposed process in small scale operation such as a pilot plant within their professional field.
2153-11 — Chemical Engineer (General)
Chemical Engineer (General) is responsible for conduct research and advise on, and develop commercial scale chemical processes to refine crude oil and other liquids or gases, to produce substances and items specify chemical production methods, materials and quality standards; establish control standards and procedures to ensure safety and efficiency of chemical production operations and safety of workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to on going chemical reactions; design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals and products within their professional field.
2153-12 — Chemical Engineer (Petroleum)
Chemical Engineer (Petroleum) is responsible for ensuring petroleum and oil materials go directly into gas tanks, and that the correct chemicals are used to get crude oil into a usable form; conduct research and advise on, and develop commercial scale chemical processes to refine crude oil and other liquids or gases, and to produce substances and items such as petroleum derivatives specify petroleum production methods, quality standards and ensure conformity to specifications; establish control standards and procedures to ensure safety and efficiency of petroleum production operations and safety of workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to on going chemical reactions within their professional field.
2153-14 — Chemical Engineer Drugs and Poisons
Chemical Engineer Drugs and Poisons is responsible for ensure that the large scale production, packaging, and delivery of pharmaceutical goods, conduct research and advise on, and develop commercial scale chemical processes to refine crude oil specify chemical production methods, materials and quality standards and ensure conformity to specifications; establish control standards and procedures design chemical plant equipment and devise processes perform tests throughout stages of production to determine degree of control over variables, develop safety procedures to be employed; prepare estimates of production costs and production progress reports for management within their professional field.
2153-16 — Chemical Engineer Fertilizer
Chemical Engineer Fertilizer is responsible for preparing plans showing layout of plant equipment for manufacture of fertilizers undertaking test runs on equipment running surveys on plant operations instructing subordinates in charging plant with prescribed quantity of raw materials controlling pressure, temperature, acid feed, cooling limits etc; of plant sending samples of finished or semi finished product to chemist for analysis developing new and improved processes at economic cost maintaining plant and equipment at optimum level of efficiency preparing process designs and assisting in preparation of complete designs within their professional field.
2153-13 — Chemical Engineer Paints and Varnish
Chemical Engineer Paints and Varnish is responsible for design the processes, and determine ways of running the processes, that create the paint themselves; determine proportion of ingredients such as zinc oxide, barytes, colour pigments, natural resins, synthetic resins and solvents, linseed oil, etc; test viscosity, film, drying time, covering capacity, durability of paint, etc within their professional field.
2153-15 — Chemical Engineer, Acids and Bases
Chemical Engineer, Acids and Bases is responsible for design non corrosive material combinations, car batteries, chemical fertilizers and food preservation techniques; develop solutions in labs to solve specific industry problems; a variety of industries rely on their expertise, including food and drink, oil and gas, energy, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, plastics, water treatment and toiletries within their professional field.
2153-17 — Chemical Engineer, Cement Production
Chemical Engineer, Cement Production is responsible for production planning, operation and entire management of the entire cement production process; ensure cement quality and iso standards are met; coordinate and supervise of all maintenance activities within their professional field.
2153-22 — Chemical Laboratory Technologist
Chemical Laboratory Technologist is responsible for set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment; maintain production equipment and troubleshoot problems; prepare chemical solutions within their professional field.
2153-27 — Chemical Technologist, Alcohol
Chemical Technologist, Alcohol is responsible for conduct research and advise on, and develop commercial scale chemical processes to produce substances and items such as food, alcohol, beverage and drink products, specify alcohol production methods, materials and quality standards and ensure conformity to specifications; establish control standards and procedures to ensure safety and efficiency of alcohol production operations and safety of workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to on going chemical reactions; design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing alcoholic products within their professional field.
2153-18 — Chemical Technologist, Beverages
Chemical Technologist, Beverages is responsible for prepare and carry out experiments, tests, and chemical analyses; operate and maintain laboratory equipment; implement sampling and analysis programs to ensure product compliance with quality standards within their professional field.
2153-21 — Chemical Technologist, food
Chemical Technologist, food is responsible for set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical and chemical separation techniques, and microscopy; conduct research and advise on, and develop commercial scale chemical processes to produce substances and items such as food and drink products, specify chemical production methods, materials and quality standards and ensure conformity to specifications; establish control standards and procedures to ensure safety and efficiency of food production operations and safety design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for processing food products within their professional field.
2153-26 — Chemical Technologist, Paper
Chemical Technologist, Paper is responsible for control the processes involved in the conversion of raw materials such as wood and bagasse (the dry refuse from sugar making) into pulp, paper, cardboard and related products, which are in turn converted to final products such as books and boxes, set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests, and analyses using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical and chemical separation techniques, and microscopy; specify chemical production methods, materials and quality standards and ensure conformity to specifications; establish control standards and procedures to ensure safety and efficiency of chemical production operations within their professional field.
2153-24 — Chemical Technologist, Plastics
Chemical Technologist, Plastics is responsible for test the processes used to produce plastics, and put the processes into operation; oversee these processes and the production of plastics; test the quality of plastics and the final consumer product within their professional field.
2153-28 — Chemical Technologist, rubber
Chemical Technologist, rubber is responsible for draw up formulas that enable the manufacturing processes to be initiated and performed by standard rubber machines; monitor the production processes and then draw up the process specifications for the conversion of materials into usable rubber products; involved in the design of various new rubber products within their professional field.
2153-25 — Chemical Technologists, fuel
Chemical Technologists, fuel is responsible for assist in design and development of electrical power and distribution systems and instrumentation; create layouts of electrical distribution or transmission systems; oversee the work flow, ensuring work is done according to regulations and that deadlines are met within their professional field.
2153-31 — Oil and Gas Technologist
Oil Technologist is responsible for involved in the evaluation of crude oil to understand its properties and classification in order to know its refining parameters; test crude oil and maintain quality control in a refinery or a lubricant manufacturing plant; conduct tests and trials on petroleum to know its quality and how much refinement it needs to be usable within their professional field.