The Mechanical and Transport Division (MTD) is responsible for provision, maintenance and renewal of mechanical transport and Plant services. The Division is also responsible for standardization for vehicles, plant and equipment as well as an adviser to the Government on issues related to mechanical and automotive engineering. 

The Mechanical and Transport Division (MTD) was originally started as the Mechanical, Transport and Plant Fund (MTPF) in 1949 within the then Public Works Department. It was established as the Chief Technical Advisor to the Government on all matters related to Mechanical and Transport services with a mission of repairing and maintaining government vehicles and equipment used for construction and maintenance of roads and other infrastructure. 

The Mechanical Transport and Plant Funds (Renewal and Maintenance) were established with a mission to acquire and maintain vehicles and plants for construction and maintenance of roads on hire basis. The hire charges catered for cost maintenance of vehicles and plants and were renewable on elapse of their economic life.

The MTPF was operational until 1982/83 Financial Year when it was suspended due to failure by the Roads Division to meet its obligation of payment for the use of vehicles and plant. This was mainly due to the unavailability of a sustainable funding for road maintenance at that time. 

MTD formulated equipment maintenance fund for some time until 2003 when the Mechanical and Transport Fund (MTF) was established through Legal Notice No. 140 under Exchequer and Audit Act (CAP 412) as a successor to MTPF.

The Mechanical and Transport Division is headed by the Chief Engineer (Mechanical) who oversees the day-to-day management and administrative activities of the Division. The Division has two branches; 

a) Operations and Administration 

b) Technical and Development. 

MTD has a presence in all 47 Counties with its headquarters based in the Industrial area, Nairobi. It has 26 regional offices supported by (20) outstations. The regions are led by Regional Mechanical Engineers.

The Division is set to undergo transformation in a Semi- Autonomous Government Agency in the process funded by the World Bank under the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project. The transformation into a SAGA is envisaged to catapult the Division into modern operational status and unlock the division’s potential in revenue generation and modern resource management.

Mandate

The mandate of the Mechanical and Transport Division is to provide mechanical transport services. These services include provision of equipment for development and maintenance of infrastructure and a wide range of mechanical services to the public and private sectors.

Functions of the Mechanical and Transport Division

All the functions are fundamentally aimed at supporting the State Department of Roads to fulfill its mandate. They are confined within the public service except Equipment hire service, and are of a regulatory/advisory nature. Furthermore, in terms of workload and revenues, equipment hire accounts for the majority of revenues to MTD. 

a) Co-ordination of procurement, standardization and maintenance of public service vehicles, plant and equipment; 

b) Provision of professional and technical services to the National Government, Public Institutions, County Governments and State Corporations on procurement, repair, maintenance and disposal of vehicles, plant and equipment; 

c) Provision of Equipment for development and maintenance of roads and other physical infrastructure on hire basis; 

d) Fabrication and repair of safes and cash boxes for the National Treasury; 

e) Conduct of suitability and occupational tests for drivers and plant operators for MDAs; 

f) Provision of all kinds of mechanical, plant, equipment and motor vehicle inspections; 

g) Implementation of Kenya Standard, KS 1515:2000 code of practice for inspection of road vehicles for roadworthiness; 

h) Provision of Government transport services, and, 

i) Management of the Mechanical Transport Fund (MTF). 

Strategic Objectives

The strategic objectives of the Mechanical and Transport Division are: -

a) Standardization of public service vehicles, plant and equipment;

b) Provision of professional and technical consultancy services to the Central Government, Public Institutions, County Governments and State Corporations on procurement, repair, maintenance and disposal of vehicles, plant and equipment; 

c) Provision of plant for development and maintenance of physical infrastructure with particular emphasis to roads; 

d) Conducting suitability and occupational tests for Drivers and Plant Operators; 

e) Provision of all kinds of mechanical, plant, equipment and motor vehicle inspections; 

f) Implementation of Kenya Standard KS 1515:2000 Code of practice for inspection of road vehicles for roadworthiness; 

g) Manufacture of Government Safes, Cash Boxes and strong room doors among other fabrications; and

h) Provision of Government transport services.