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Agriculture

Certificate in Agricultural Mechanics

The Certificate in Agricultural Mechanics is a TVET-CDACC Level 5 competency-based programme that trains students in agricultural machinery operation, maintenance, and repair skills. The course is examined by TVET-CDACC and offered across accredited TVET institutions in Kenya. Students learn tractor operation, farm machinery maintenance, engine repair, welding, and agricultural equipment servicing.

Duration
2 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 67,189
Ksh 134,378 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 67,189 a year at a public institution, Ksh 134,378 for the whole course.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of KCSE Mean Grade D (Plain) or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 2 years, full-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 16 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Aquaculture Technologist, at 3 out of 100.The detail

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Overview

The curriculum covers basic units including communication skills, numeracy skills, digital literacy, entrepreneurial skills, employability skills, environmental literacy, and occupational safety and health practices. Core units focus on tractor operation and maintenance, farm machinery repair, engine servicing, basic welding, hydraulic systems, electrical systems, and industrial attachment in an agricultural machinery workshop or farm.

Kenya's agricultural mechanisation drive, including government tractor hire services, large-scale farming operations, and agricultural equipment dealerships, creates demand for trained agricultural mechanics. Farm machinery service centres, agricultural cooperatives, and equipment distributors require certified personnel for maintenance and repair operations.

Training combines classroom theory with practical sessions in workshop and farm environments. Students practice tractor operation, machinery repair, engine servicing, welding, and equipment maintenance under supervised conditions. The programme includes industrial attachment in agricultural machinery workshops or on large-scale farms where students apply their skills in real machinery environments.

Graduates work as agricultural mechanics, tractor operators, machinery service technicians, and farm equipment maintenance assistants in agricultural machinery workshops, large-scale farms, equipment dealerships, and agricultural cooperatives. The qualification provides a foundation for progression to Agricultural Engineering Level 6 and beyond for specialised agricultural engineering roles.

This programme is suitable for KCSE certificate holders with a mean grade of D (plain) who are interested in machinery and mechanics and seeking technical positions in the agricultural mechanisation and farm equipment sector.

What you study

8 subjects
  • Agricultural Mechanics Principles
  • Tractor Engines
  • Farm Implement Repair
  • Hydraulic Systems
  • Agricultural Electrical Systems
  • Welding and Fabrication
  • Machinery Diagnostics
  • Equipment Maintenance

Modules

10 in the programme

  • Introduction to Agricultural Mechanics

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Agricultural mechanics concepts, industry overview, safety practices, and fundamental principles of farm machinery and equipment operations.

  • Agricultural Mechanics Principles

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Mechanical principles applied to agricultural equipment including force, motion, power transmission, and basic mechanics for farm machinery.

  • Tractor Engines

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Tractor diesel engines, operation principles, engine components, repair, and overhaul procedures for agricultural tractor maintenance.

  • Farm Implement Repair

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Repair and maintenance of ploughs, planters, harvesters, and farm implements including component adjustment, replacement, and field equipment servicing.

  • Hydraulic Systems

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Agricultural hydraulic systems including pumps, cylinders, valves, hoses, and basic hydraulic system maintenance for tractor and implement operations.

  • Agricultural Electrical Systems

    Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

    Electrical systems in tractors and agricultural equipment including wiring, batteries, alternators, and basic electrical troubleshooting for farm machinery.

  • Welding and Fabrication

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Welding and fabrication for farm equipment repair and modification including basic arc welding, metal cutting, and equipment bracket fabrication.

  • Machinery Diagnostics

    Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

    Diagnosing faults in agricultural machinery and equipment including engine problems, hydraulic faults, and basic machinery troubleshooting procedures.

  • Equipment Maintenance

    Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore

    Scheduled maintenance of tractors and farm equipment including oil changes, filter replacement, lubrication, and routine servicing for machinery reliability.

  • Workshop Practice and Safety

    Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore

    Workshop safety, tool usage, equipment handling, and agricultural workshop procedures for safe and effective farm machinery repair operations.

Specialisations

  • Tractor Repair

    Focus on tractor engine and systems repair including engine overhaul, transmission service, hydraulic repair, and basic tractor maintenance operations.

  • Implement Repair

    Specialisation in farm implement maintenance including plough, planter, and harvester repair, adjustment, and basic implement servicing for field operations.

  • Welding and Fabrication

    Specialisation in farm equipment fabrication and repair including arc welding, metal cutting, bracket making, and basic fabrication for agricultural machinery.

  • Irrigation Equipment

    Focus on irrigation pump and system maintenance including pump repair, pipe fitting, sprinkler servicing, and basic irrigation equipment maintenance.

A day as a student

Students attend theory on engine systems and hydraulics, followed by extensive workshop sessions repairing tractor engines, servicing implements, welding, and diagnosing machinery faults.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Agricultural mechanisation creates growing demand for mechanics.Field work may involve rural areas and challenging conditions.
Skills enable self-employment — mobile repair service is viable.Working with heavy machinery involves safety risks.
NITA trade test and KNEC certificate provide recognised credentials.—

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 303 agriculture courses
Public67k to 67k
67k at Public TVET colleges67k at Public TVET colleges

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

Pub TVET 67K/yr artisan cert (jitimu.com, institutiontoday.com). Private: unverified.

TVET government funding and HELB loans are available.

Funding options

  • Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Funding

  • Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) - TVET Loans

Scholarships

4 recorded

  • County Government Bursaries

    BursaryKenyan

    Residents of respective counties.

  • TVET Funding

    Government fundingKenyan

    Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions.

  • HELB TVET Loans

    LoanKenyan

    Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions.

  • National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)

    BursaryKenyan

    Students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Scholarships you could apply for

10 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade
KCSE Mean Grade D (Plain)minimum entry
Alternative entry

Artisan Certificate in a relevant field or equivalent qualification.

When it next starts

Taught at 16 institutions
January 202716 institutions

Including Multimedia University of Kenya, Machakos University, South Eastern Kenya University.

May 202716 institutions

Including Multimedia University of Kenya, Machakos University, South Eastern Kenya University.

September 202716 institutions

Including Multimedia University of Kenya, Machakos University, South Eastern Kenya University.

How you are assessed

4 components

  • Repair Project

    Project20% of the mark

    Complete a major equipment repair or maintenance project.

  • Continuous Assessment Tests

    Test20% of the mark

    Regular tests on mechanics, hydraulics, and machinery systems.

  • Practical Workshop Exercises

    Practicum40% of the mark

    Hands-on assessment of engine repair, welding, and equipment maintenance.

  • Final Certificate Examination

    Exam100% of the mark

    KNEC national examination for certificate in agricultural mechanics.

Accreditation

  • Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority

    NationalRequired

    Mandatory accreditation for all TVET institutions and programmes in Kenya.

  • Kenya National Examination Council

    NationalRequired

    Examining body for national certificate and craft certificate programmes under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF).

Accredited by Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) and examined by Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF). The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Farm Equipment Maintenance Assistant

    Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 85,000

    Support maintenance of farm equipment on large farms.

  • Irrigation Pump Technician

    Moderate demandKsh 46,000 to Ksh 88,000

    Maintain and repair irrigation pumps and water systems.

  • Tractor Service Technician

    High demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 95,000

    Service and repair tractors at dealerships and service centres.

  • Agricultural Mechanic

    High demandKsh 48,000 to Ksh 92,000

    Repair and maintain agricultural machinery and equipment.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as agricultural mechanics and tractor service technicians in farms, equipment dealers, and agricultural service companies across Kenya.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Agricultural mechanics is just tractor repair

    It covers all farm machinery — implements, irrigation pumps, processing equipment, and hydraulic systems.

  • Limited career prospects

    Agricultural mechanisation is growing — every mechanised farm and equipment dealer needs qualified mechanics.

  • Same as automotive mechanics

    Agricultural mechanics is specialised for farm equipment — tractors, implements, and agricultural hydraulics.

  • This programme has limited career opportunities.

    Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.

Further reading

Read next