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.

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.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 67,189
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 25 students
Award: Artisan Certificate

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 favour

Agricultural mechanisation creates growing demand for mechanics.
Skills enable self-employment — mobile repair service is viable.
NITA trade test and KNEC certificate provide recognised credentials.

Against it

Field work may involve rural areas and challenging conditions.
Working with heavy machinery involves safety risks.

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.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: KCSE Mean Grade D (Plain)
Alternative entry: Artisan Certificate in a relevant field or equivalent qualification.

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

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.

Accredited by

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).

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

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This programme has limited career opportunities.
Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.