My role as the Head of the department is to ensure the management of resources, managing
the curriculum implementation, trainee management, resource mobilization, coordination of all
activities in the department.
The department was started in 2008 with ten students under the department of Electrical and
Electronics with lecturers on BOG teaching in the department. At inception it offered only
Certificate in Automotive Engineering. However, in 2010, the department started offering
Diploma in Automotive Engineering and in July 2010 TSC recruited a trainer for the department
who was then appointed as the head of section in charge of Automotive.
In 2011, the department became autonomous with the head of section appointed Head of
department, Automotive Engineering with a student population of 65 students. Fast forward to
2015, the department launched more courses including Welding and Fabrication and
Mechanical Engineering Plant option with the student population rising to 120, and in 2016, the
name of the department changed to Mechanical and Automotive Engineering to accommodate
the new courses. Currently (2019), the student population is 190 with well experienced and
competent trainers whose number is 8 in total. The department has good equipment necessary
for training.
The department has full potential in offering the above- mentioned courses with very qualified
trainers accredited by the TVET Authority, vast experience in the fields. As the technology and
innovation advance, these courses are offered in terms of competency-based system i.e. hands
on courses. They enable our trainees to have first-hand experience
Therefore, I wish to encourage the public to bring their sons, daughters and relatives and even
well-wishers to pursue these courses.
Some of the achievements we have made are; increased trainee numbers from 60 to current
190 in a span of two years, increased the capacity of our training equipment including
acquisition of a vehicle and other equipment, the department had also added new courses at
different levels in the CBET system. We are in the process of establishing a driving school and
are engaging the industry on partnership opportunities, so far Toyota East Africa has been
engaged to secure attachment positions for our trainees.
We also have career guidance in the department and intend to establish the institution’s fully
equipped garage which shall be open to the public for the services, hence enable us to launch
more market-driven courses to assist our trainees to start the own businesses, train the Jua Kali
artisans in the trade areas and assist them acquire certificates, partner with County
Governments and other interested parties to train young people on short courses.
I call upon all stakeholders to have trust in the institution in helping the trainees achieve their
ambitions in life and parents should be in contact with the institution to ascertain the progress
of the sons and daughters and also support the institution where applicable. As an institution
we need to undertake more Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities and be in touch with
the society.