The Kenyan employment market is competitive, with numerous qualified graduates competing for only a limited number of slots. Many students are cautious about the courses they wish to enrol in and undertake on the merit of securing quick employment. But is mechanical engineering marketable in Kenya? And what are the recruitment prospects after graduation?
Courses in the STEM fields are increasingly attracting new learners. The discipline has been recording a steady increment in enrollment over the years, and understandably so. Mechanical engineering is one of the most popular disciplines among engineering students.
What is mechanical engineering?
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that entails working around equipment and moving machinery. Are mechanical engineers in demand? Yes. The sector is recording remarkable growth.
Is mechanical engineering marketable in Kenya?
Yes, mechanical engineering is among the most marketable courses in Kenya at the moment. Undergraduate and diploma courses offered at TVET institutions are recording an enrolment boom.
Requirements for mechanical engineering in Kenya
Students wishing to enrol in learning institutions for an undergraduate course in mechanical engineering must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Candidates must meet the minimum KCSE mean grade B- (minus) requirement in the KCSE examination or possess the equivalent of a diploma certificate from an accredited institution.
- The students must also have an aggregate score of B plain in 4 cluster subjects and attain the minimum grade in each subject, which includes:
Option A
- Mathematics - C+
- Physics – C+
- Chemistry – C+
- Geography or Biology ( Any Group III/ IV subject) – C+
Option B
- Mathematics – C+
- Biology – C+
- Geography – C+
- Any Group IV subject
Diploma in mechanical engineering options
Candidates who still wish to pursue mechanical engineering and did not attain the minimum requirement to undertake an undergraduate degree still have a chance to pursue diploma options.
Minimum entry grade requirements for the options include having a mean grade of C-. However, no aggregate cluster is required. Below are several diploma options aspiring candidates can enrol and pursue :
- Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (Plant option)
- Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (Production option)
- Diploma in Mechanical Engineering
Certificate, artisan, and craft mechanical engineering courses
Candidates who fail to qualify for the minimum requirements of the diploma programs can undertake craft and certificate courses in mechanical engineering.
The courses are available at most TVET institutions around the country, and the minimum entry requirements are a mean grade of D+ with no cluster requirements.
Starting at the bottom allows learners to gradually ascend the educational hierarchy at a steady pace for learners. Moreover, craft and certificate courses instil learners with valuable practical knowledge that makes grasping engineering concepts easy.
Mechanical engineering job opportunities
Graduates in mechanical engineering can work in any sector, from manufacturing to medicine. Below are some of the jobs for mechanical engineers:
Process engineers
Process engineers work on plant equipment systems and design methods for a company's manufacturing process. The job description entails testing and monitoring equipment and ensuring the maintenance of systems in compliance with safety standards.
The engineers are also tasked with overseeing the entire production pipeline to ensure the smooth operation of the plants, factories, and other production facilities. A basic job requirement is a mechanical engineering degree that offers a mix of scientific and administrative skills.
Product design engineer
The primary role of a design engineer is to meet with research and development teams to test, develop and improve product designs. Expectations include researching and determining project requirements by backdating the target audience and determining the project's functionality.
Design engineers may be required to construct and test prototypes and revise ideas per rising new requirements to ensure they conform to industry standards and guidelines. The engineers may also be tasked with product development aspects such as material ergonomics and aesthetics.
Engineering project manager
Project managers are tasked with planning and executing projects from initiation to completion. The engineers may be in charge of a project team where they must formulate budgets, evaluate project completion timelines, and set deadlines.
Aside from ensuring that all team members understand their roles according to the client's specifications, project managers can also work on projects concerning all forms of technology, automotive, computer, and aerospace.
Other notable occupations that also come about from mechanical engineering include:
- Mechanical technician
- Plant and machinery engineer
- Mechanical engineering
- Maintenance mechanical technician
- Mechanical draughtsman
- Mechanical design engineering
- Field service engineer
- Service engineer
- Assistant mechanical engineer
- Technical operator, mechanical
- NPD tooling engineer
- Shift technician
- Service technician (Mechanical)
- Sales engineer (mechanical tools)
- HVAC project engineer
- Design engineer
- Mechanical technician
- Mechanical craftsman
- Workshop officer
- Supervisor marine engineer
How much is the mechanical engineering salary in Kenya per month?
The average salary of a mechanical engineer currently ranges between KES 36,000 and KES 357,000, inclusive of all allowances. Besides learning the dynamics and rotary mechanics of equipment and machinery, mechanical engineering as a course helps learners become open-minded.
Students develop analytical and problem-solving skills through their heavy reliance on STEM subjects. These skills are crucial in making learners creative and adaptive in coming up with solutions to existing problems in the modern world.
Equipped with these skills, learners can react and cope with the outside world's demands and create new opportunities for themselves and others. Mechanical engineering is taught through a rigorous STEM-based curriculum that instils critical thinking and analytical skills in students.
These skills enable learners to become experts in a certain engineering field, helping others find solutions to current project problems.
Final word
Is mechanical engineering marketable in Kenya? Yes. The country currently needs mechanical engineers, all thanks to funding and the creation of new technological firms and industries to stir economic growth. The revamp of the technical institutions and emphasis on teaching STEM subjects in schools has made learning the course easier.
Tuko.co.ke published a guide about nursing job categories, salaries, and allowances in Kenya. Nursing is one of the oldest and most significant professions. A nurse is present throughout the patient's experience, from admission to surgery to care and beyond.
They are constantly present when someone requires care, working relentlessly to recognise and provide for their patients' needs. Nursing is in high demand in Kenya since medical facilities require such skills to protect public health.
