Railway Training Institute (RTI)
Kenya's railway training institute in Nairobi, offering railway engineering and transport management since 1956.
The institution
Who they are, how big, and how they rank.
About
Railway Training Institute (RTI), established in 1953, is Kenya's specialised transport training institution. Located in Nairobi, Kenya, RTI serves over 1,500 students and operates under the Kenya Railways Corporation.
The institute offers courses in track engineering, locomotive operations, signalling and telecommunications, rail construction, and transport management. Facilities include specialised workshops, signalling labs, and locomotive simulators.
Accredited by TVETA, the institution is the country's only transport training college of its kind, producing technicians who operate and maintain the national rail network including the SGR and the metre-gauge system.
The numbers
- Student to staff
- 1:15
- Scholarships
- Offered
- Mentor institution
- Kabete National Polytechnic
Research and innovation
RTI anchors railway transport engineering research, signalling and telecommunications modernization, and multimodal transport logistics in East Africa. Operating in partnership with Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) and regional logistics operators, the institute conducts research into Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and Metre Gauge Railway (MGR) operational safety, rolling stock preventive maintenance diagnostics, freight interchange efficiency, and transit-oriented development.
Accredited by
1 regulatory bodyWhat they teach
Faculties, departments and the programmes on offer.
Admission requirements
The institute requires a minimum KCSE mean grade of C- (Minus) for diploma programmes and D (Plain) for certificate courses. Competitive programmes include Diploma in Railway Engineering, Diploma in Electrical Engineering, and Diploma in Supply Chain Management. The institute accepts KUCCPS-placed and self-sponsored students. Short courses are available with open entry requirements for professional development.
Intakes
- January
- May
- September
Departments
5 listed- Railway Engineering
- Locomotive Operations
- Signaling & Telecommunications
- Railway Construction
- Transport Management
Courses offered
73 programmes- Artisan in Building Technology
- Artisan in Food and Beverage
- Artisan in Welding and Fabrication
- Baking Technology Level Four (TVET-CDACC)
- Certificate in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Certificate in Food Preparation and Culinary Arts
- Certificate in Food Science and Processing Technology
- Certificate in Food and Beverage Management
- Certificate in Human Resource Management
- Certificate in Maritime Transport and Logistics
Also offered
- Certificate in Electrical Engineering
- Certificate in Mechanical Engineering
- Diploma in Electrical Engineering
- Diploma in Mechanical Engineering
- Diploma in Railway Engineering
- Diploma in ICT
- Artisan in Motor Vehicle Mechanics
- Craft Certificate in Railway Operations
- Craft Certificate in Signalling and Telecommunications
- Certificate in Plumbing and Pipe Fitting
Campus and beyond
Where you would be, and who they are connected to.
On campus
- Railway Workshops with locomotive and rolling stock equipment
- Signalling and Telecommunications Laboratories for practical training
- Locomotive Simulators for train driver training programmes
- Well-stocked library with digital resource centre for trainees
- Computer Laboratories with internet access for ICT training
- Student Hostels with residential accommodation and cafeteria
International partnerships
2 institutionsChina Road and Bridge Corporation technical training partnership
African Union Railways Project