A century of making.

Kabete National Polytechnic boasts a rich history dating back to 1924, when it was established by the colonial government as the Native Industry Training Depot. During World War II (1939–1945), it was converted into a recruitment barracks for soldiers. After the war, the institution reverted to a school offering three-year trade courses for primary school graduates.

Following Kenya's independence, it became a National Technical Secondary School known as Kabete Technical High School, admitting top-performing students from across the country. The school also accepted form-three students from Grammar Secondary Schools to pursue trade programmes like plumbing, electrical, and mechanical studies, providing a pathway to technical colleges.

With the introduction of the 8-4-4 education system in 1985, the institution transitioned into Kabete Technical Training Institute. It was tasked with training students in Trade Test, Artisan, Certificate, and Diploma programmes in fields such as Carpentry and Joinery, Electrical and Electronics, Civil Engineering, and Business, catering to standard eight and form four graduates. The goal was to equip students with skills for self-employment or skilled roles in the public and private sectors.

Now known as Kabete National Polytechnic, the institution is ISO 9001:2015 certified and collaborates with stakeholders to offer technological, professional, and scientific education that supports the country's industrial development. Notably, it became the first TVET institution in Kenya to export engineering spare parts to the international market, including China, following its victory in the Africa Tech Challenge (AFRITECH) sponsored by China.