Automotive Engineering Department

Overview

The Automotive Engineering Department is as old as the institution, when it started as Technical Secondary School in 1967. The department then trained students in the Basic Engineering Trades in which Motor Vehicle Mechanics was offered as a subject leading to the award of O-level certificates i.e. EACE from 1967 to 1976 and KCE between 1977 and 1987. Many students opted for the subject and passed in the twenty years (i.e. between 1967 and 1987) and many are well placed in society today.

In 1986, there was a structural change in the education system thus the KISUMU TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL became KISUMU TECHNICAL TRAINING INSTITUTE. With the change in status it was also necessary to re-organize and the department started offering Craft Certificate in Motor Vehicle Mechanics. This continued up to the year 1996.

The institute was elevated to polytechnic status in 1996 and given a mandate to start offering Diploma courses. The department thus upgraded and started offering Diploma in Automotive Engineering in addition to the earlier sanctioned Craft Certificate in Motor Vehicle Mechanics.

Between 1996 and 2013 the department was also offering the Technical Education Project (TEP) program for both Craft Certificate in Motor Vehicle Mechanics and Diploma in Automotive Engineering courses. In the TEP program, courses ran for a specific duration ending with a national examination administered by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) e.g. Craft Certificate in Motor Vehicle Mechanics and Diploma in Automotive Engineering used to take two (2) and three (3) years respectively.

In 2013, the KISUMU NATIONAL POLYTECHNIC ORDER, an Act of Parliament, came into effect and with it a change in status as well as an enhanced mandate. This came about at a time the department was phasing out the TEP program. The department has fully phased out all the regular TEP courses and is currently offering the TVET program in all its regular courses (full-time courses).

The department has witnessed growth in terms of physical facilities, courses as well as in personnel. The department boasts a well-equipped workshop in which all the practical lessons are conducted, an ICT laboratory from which the students can access the internet and from where subjects such as autoCAD are conducted, a smart classroom from which simulated learning programs are installed.

Mission

To train students who will be able to adapt to the new and emerging technology in the Automobile industry.

Vision

To produce students who will be able to serve in Automobile Industry, pursue higher learning/training or become entrepreneurs in the Automobile Industry.

Academic Performance

The department has performed consistently well in examinations that are offered by Kenya National Examination Council e.g. the graduates have scored good grades such as credits and passes. The general trend is such that for every national examination taken, there’s an improvement over the previous examination result.

Our Courses

Since the inception of the TVET program, all the courses in the department run in a modular basis and terminate with a national examination at the end of every module (duration of study). All Diploma courses run for seven (7) terms with two (2) industrial attachments (one after the first three terms and the other after the end of the second module).

The craft certificate course runs for five (5) terms with one industrial attachment after the first three terms. The duration for each industrial attachment is three months.

The courses run within the department have increased from two to four regular courses and one part- time course.

The regular courses include:
  • Diploma in Automotive Engineering
  • Diploma in Petroleum Geosciences
  • Diploma in Mechanical Engineering – Construction Plant Option
  • Craft certificate in Automotive engineering


The only part-time course running in the department is Artisan Certificate in Motor Vehicle Mechanics.

The examining body for ALL the courses in the department is the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).

In addition to the above-mentioned courses, the department also trains drivers in collaboration with the AA of KENYA.

This course is examined by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) in conjunction with the Kenya Police (Traffic department).

The courses in the department are offered on the basis of the broad objectives of education in Kenya.

These goals include:
  • Enhancing national goals for education
  • Promoting national aims of technical training programmes
  • Promoting objectives of the technician training programmes for diploma graduates
  • Promoting objectives of the craft training programmes for craft certificate graduates


Craft Certificate In Automotive Engineering

The course is designed to enable trainees acquire adequate competencies for formal as well as informal employment and prepare them for further training.

The course is in two modules, with each module preparing the trainee to perform specific tasks and jobs whose total value combined will produce the required graduate by the end of the course.

The graduate of this course should be able to;
  • Demonstrate the ability to select, use and maintain the tools and equipment for trade
  • Observe environment, health and safety in the workshop and other work places
  • Explain the working principles of motor vehicle components and systems
  • Read and interpret working drawings
  • Service and repair motor vehicles
  • Communicate with others effectively on matters of automotive engineering
  • Have a firm foundation for further training


  • Diploma In Automotive Engineering

    The course is designed to enable trainees acquire adequate competencies for formal as well as informal employment and prepare them for further training.

    The course is in three modules, with each module preparing the trainee to perform specific tasks and jobs whose total value combined will produce the required graduate by the end of the course.

    The graduate of this course should be able to;
    • Test and analyze vehicle performance
    • Interpret technical information on vehicle body work and performance
    • Apply ICT in Vehicle industry
    • Design and implement environment, health and safety programmes
    • Have a firm foundation for further training


    Diploma In Mechanical Engineering –Construction Plant Option

    The course is in three modules. Each module prepares the trainee to perform specific tasks and jobs whose total value combined will impart the desired competence, which will produce the required graduate at the end of the course.

    The course puts emphasis on practical work and competence acquisition, thus, the trainee to spend adequate time in practical lessons. The graduate of the course will be able to work in Construction Plant while upholding professional standards.

    Diploma In Petroleum Geosciences
    This course is packaged in three modules namely;
    • Module I – Introduction to Petroleum Geo-Science
    • Module II – Petroleum exploration
    • Module III – Petroleum production


    The graduate of this course should be able to:
    • acquire the necessary and relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes for oil and Gas exploration
    • acquire background knowledge about the formation of petroleum products
    • gain knowledge on the processes of exploration, drilling and production in the Petroleum sector
    • appreciate various policies, laws, regulations governing petroleum exploration and production exercise
    • appreciate the fundamentals of environmental, health and safety management in petroleum exploration and production
    • achieve a base for further training in Petroleum Geo-science


    Artisan Certificate In Motor Vehicle Mechanics


    Requirements:


    For entry into any of the Diploma Courses offered by the department, the following minimum entry criteria have to be met;
  • Mean grade C at KCSE Level or Craft Certificate in Automotive Engineering Level II – For Diploma in Automotive Engineering
  • Mean grade of C-(MINUS) at KCSE Level or Passed National Vocational Certificate of Education Training (NVCET) metal processing technology level II Option or Craft Certificate in Mech./Auto. Engineering or Equivalent qualifications as shall be determined by the Kenya National Examinations Council – For Construction Plant Option
  • Mean grade C at KCSE Level – For Diploma in Petroleum Geosciences


  • For entry into the craft Certificate in Automotive Engineering course the minimum entry requirement is
    • Mean grade of C- at KCSE Level or its Equivalent from a recognized examining body.

    Our Staff

      Name Qualifications Specialization Responsibilities
    1 Elly Adhiambo Owuor Bachelors – Moi University

     

    22 years teachings experience Head of Department

     

    2 Paul Watsiera Shingalaba ·         Bachelors – Moi University

    ·         Masters – UoN

    ·         Doctorate – JKUAT

     

    Lecturing (7 years) ·         Lecturer

    ·         Deputy HoD

    3 Samson Alemba Obuya Diploma, KTTC Lecturing Lecturer
    4 Nicholas Otieno Onyango ·         Vocational  – Diploma (Technical Education), KTTC

    ·         Bachelors – B.Ed (Technology, ongoing), UoE

     

    Lecturer in Motor Vehicle Technology, four years Lecturer
    5 Nicholas Akoth Agoro Bachelors – B.Ed (Technology), Moi University – Lecturer in vehicle technology (13 years)

     

    Lecturer
    6 Jared Kore Shem ·         Diploma (Technical education), KTTC

    ·         Diploma (Mechanical Engineering – Automotive), Technical University of Mombasa

     

    Lecturer (36 years) Lecturer
    7 Jared Ooko Deya ·         Diploma – B.Ed (Technology), Moi University

    ·         Bachelors – MBA, Maseno University

    ·         Masters – M.Sc, (Entrepreneurship), JKUAT

    ·         Doctorate – PhD (Business Administration), JKUAT.

     

    Lecturer (8 years) Lecturer
    8 Thomas Mong’are Ongwacho Sports Officer
    9 Ezekiel Odhiambo Oloo ILO Representative
    10 Kennedy Chumbi Obure ISO Champion
    11 Charles Agugo Technician