Plant operator course requirements and schools in Kenya

A plant operator is someone who uses heavy machinery and equipment in the industry, manufacturing to move, excavate, and lift among other heavy activities. A course in plant operator trains a user on how to operate one or a number of these machines.

Some of the most common machinery that a plant operator can use include front-end loaders, asphalt pavers & rollers, bulldozers, forklifts, graders, and excavators among others.

The course period can range from a minimum of 2 months if you already have a valid driver’s license or more.

Please note for the institute to offer the course it should be registered by NTSA. The NTSA is the one who examines the operator and issues the license for operation.

Plant operator course requirement.

In Kenya, most of the institute that trains plant operators only requires you to have a valid driving license. 

However, if you don’t have one you will be required to first learn how to drive before you start the plant operator course. You will be admitted for the course even with a KCPE certificate. 

Fees for a plant operator course

The fees vary depending on the institution you choose to train, the period and the number of machines will train on. Most recognized training institutions that offer the course fee range between Kshs 30,000-100,000.

Plant operator  duties and responsibilities

In an industry work setting a plant operator may be assigned to one or more machines to operate and the responsibilities revolve around those. The main duties and responsibilities include.

  1. Control and operate the assigned machine.
  2. Perform both preventive and routine basic machine maintenance.
  3. Comply with safety, health, and environmental requirements in the field.
  4. Report any accident, machine damage, or any other safety incident.

Best plant operator training schools in Kenya

Below is the list of the best plant training schools in Kenya in no particular order. 

To select the school to attend you can consider the fee, where you are based, the number of machines that are trained, and the duration of the course.

Kenya Institute of Highways & Building Technology

It is a government institution under the Ministry of Public Works and is mandated to train on road and building technology.

Physical address

It has 3 campuses in different types such as Nairobi which is the main campus. It is located Nairobi industrial area. Other campuses and centers are Kisii and Ngong 3.5 km from Ngong Town towards the Kibiko trading centre.

Main campus contacts

Phone: 0202465760/0202465761

Address: Box 57511, Nairobi, 0020

Email: principal@kihbt.ac.ke

Kilimambogo Highways Building & Technology

It is a private institution located in Kiambu County, Landless area along Thika – Garissa road 12 KM from Thika town.

Contact details

Address: P.O. Box 7844-01000 Thika

Phone: +254 0708 308 780, 0704 201 901

Email: kilimambogohighways@gmail.com

Sensei Institute of Technology

It is a private institution that has 2 campuses for training,  Nairobi Kitengela, and Nakuru campuses.

Contact details

Address: P.O Box 15045-00100 Nairobi, Kenya

Email: info@senseitechnology.co.ke

Phone: 0717-951-055, 0729-891-301

Ganatra Plant & Equipment Training Institute

It is a private institution under the Ganatra Plant & Equipment Ltd which is an authorized dealer of JCB Construction and Agriculture equipment in Kenya and Uganda. It is located in Ruaraka Industrial Park, Baba Dogo Nairobi.

Contacts details

Email: info@gpetraining.co.ke

Phone: +254 758 960 050/ 723 506 911

International Plant Machinery Training Technical Institute

It is a private institution located at Landless, Thika. Off Garissa Road.

Contact details

Address: P.O. Box 8059-01000 Thika, Kenya.

Email: international.machinery.inst@gmail.com

Phone: +254 725 782 912, +254 723 909 804

National Youth Service (NYS)

The National Youth Service also has a plant operator course that trains those who are recruited in the service. 

The course includes the basic driving course and automotive mechanical courses.

Types of plant machinery to operate

  1. Front-end loaders, 
  2. Asphalt pavers & rollers, 
  3. Bulldozers, 
  4. Forklifts, 
  5. Cranes
  6. Dump Trucks
  7. Road Graders
  8. Backhoes
  9. Excavators
  10. Compactors
  11. Pile Drivers
  12. Tractors

How much is the school fee for a plant operator in Kenya?

Depending on the institution that you choose to study from the fee can range from Kshs. 30,000 to 100,000.

What are the requirements for a plant operator course?

The main requirement is a national ID and a valid driver’s license. The course doesn’t require any academic requirements to join. However, employers may require someone with good communication skills hence a KCPE or KCSE certificate.

What are the types of plant operators?

The different types of plant operators are those who operate forklifts, Dumpers, Backhoes, Bulldozers, Graders, Loaders, Cranes, Compactors, Excavators, and Rollers. The operator type is determined by the machine that they have learned.