How to become an event planner in Kenya

The Events Academy

Almost every class at The Events Academy starts with the same question: how do people actually become event planners in Kenya? Some students have been planning events for friends and family for years. Others work in offices and want a career that feels more alive. Many have simply been told they're very organised, once too often.

There's no licence you need before you can call yourself an event planner in Kenya. That means you can start now, and it's also why clients are careful about who they trust. This is how people make the move.

Understand the job behind the photos

On Instagram, event planning looks like flowers and beautiful tables. Most of the real work happens weeks before anyone arrives. You find out what the client wants the event to achieve, write the proposal, build the budget, find and negotiate with suppliers, plan the timeline and what could go wrong, and then run the day itself with a team.

At its simplest, an event planner brings everyone together, the client, the venue, the suppliers, any sponsors and the guests, and makes sure the event delivers what it was meant to, on the date and for the budget agreed.

Be honest about your temperament

Event planning regularly appears on lists of the world's most stressful jobs, and anyone who has run an event will tell you why. The planners who last tend to be very organised, calm when plans change at the last minute, and good with people. They notice details other people miss, and they solve problems instead of looking for someone to blame.

Emotional intelligence matters more than most people expect. A big part of the job is managing people: a nervous client, a supplier who is running late, a team that has been on its feet since 5am. If you can read the room and stay steady, you're already ahead.

Know the paths open to you

"Event planner" covers many careers. Some planners take on any event, from a birthday party to a company conference. Others specialise:

• Wedding planners, who also guide couples through traditions and etiquette
• Conference organisers, often called PCOs, who run conferences and congresses
• Meetings and convention planners, who look after associations and their members' travel and accommodation
• Event designers, who create the concept and the look of an event
• Venue managers, who sell and support events at a hotel or venue
• Event business owners and suppliers, from décor to sound and lighting

Try a range of events before you settle on one. You'll learn quickly what you enjoy and what you're good at.

Get real experience early

Clients want to know you've done it before, so experience is the first thing to build. Offer to assist an established planner on event days. Work as an usher or event coordinator at conferences and expos, where you can see how large events run from the inside. Volunteer at an event for a cause you care about. Plan something small for real, with a real budget and real suppliers.

Many of our students get their first taste of large events working as ushers and coordinators on our event staffing jobs, and through our industry partners.

Keep a simple record of each event: the brief, what you did, a few photos, and what you would do differently next time. That record becomes your first portfolio.

Learn the business side early

New planners rarely lose money on décor. They lose it on pricing, on budgets that leave out costs such as music licensing, permits and VAT, and on agreements that were never put in writing. Learning how to price your work and protect it is what turns event planning from a side hustle into a career.

Choose your training carefully

You don't need a degree to work in events, but good training shortens the learning curve and gives clients a reason to trust you. Options in Kenya range from short certificate courses to diplomas and degrees. Whichever you choose, ask who teaches it and whether they still plan events, how much of the course is practical work, and what the certificate is recognised for. We go into this in more detail in What to ask before you enrol in an events course in Kenya.

Join the industry

Industry associations give you a network of suppliers and peers, mentors who have been where you are, ongoing training, and the credibility that comes with membership. Join one early, go to their events, and be the person who helps.

If you'd like a structured start, our Become an Event Planner course covers the whole job in eight weeks, taught by practising event professionals. You'll find it, with our other courses, on our courses page.