Quick answer
Sensei Institute of Technology (Sensei College) charges KSh 68,000 for its standard plant operator course (any 3 machines, 1 month) and KSh 104,000 for the premium course (any 6 machines, 2 months). NTSA exam fees are KSh 2,430 per machine, and boarding is KSh 8,000 a month. Intakes are monthly at its Nakuru and Kitengela campuses.
Updated 20 October 2026
Sensei Institute of Technology, which now trades as Sensei College, charges KSh 68,000 for its standard plant operator course (any 3 machines in one month) and KSh 104,000 for the premium course (any 6 machines in two months). National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) exam fees of KSh 2,430 per machine are paid on top, and boarders add KSh 8,000 a month for food and accommodation.
This guide sets out the full 2026 plant operator fee structure, what each package includes, what you need to enrol, the real total you should budget for, and the college’s other course fees. Figures come from the college’s own course pages, so confirm them with admissions before you pay because fees can change between intakes.
In this guide
About Sensei Institute of Technology
Sensei is a TVETA-accredited technical college founded in 2013. It is best known for plant operation and driving, but it also runs construction, mechanics, electrical installation, ICT, hospitality, agriculture and medical short courses. Its plant operator training is certified by NTSA, which matters because NTSA tests and licenses plant operators under Class G of the driving licence system.
The college has two campuses: the main campus at Barnabas Centre on Pipeline Road along the Nairobi to Nakuru highway in Nakuru, and a second campus at Milimani Estate, Sensei Area, in Kitengela, which the college lists as its Nairobi campus. It says it has trained more than 25,000 graduates.
Sensei Plant Operator Course Fees 2026
These are the plant operator packages and fees listed by Sensei College. NTSA exam fees are shown separately because they are not included in the training fee.
| Course | Duration | Training fee | NTSA exam fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard course (any 3 machines) | 1 month | KSh 68,000 | KSh 7,290 |
| Standard course plus driving | 2 months | KSh 87,500 (KSh 43,750 a month) | KSh 7,290 |
| Premium course (any 6 machines) | 2 months | KSh 104,000 | KSh 14,580 |
| Premium course plus driving | 3 months | KSh 123,500 (about KSh 41,150 a month) | KSh 14,580 |
| Single machine | 1 week | KSh 50,000 | KSh 2,430 |
| Special machine (tower crane, mobile crane, overhead crane or paver) | 1 month per machine | KSh 75,000 | Ask admissions |
| Mobile crane or paver for Sensei alumni | 1 month | KSh 55,000 | Ask admissions |
| Borehole drilling, including Class B driving | 2 months | KSh 120,000 (KSh 110,000 for Sensei driving alumni, KSh 99,000 for plant operator alumni) | KSh 2,430 |
| Road construction plus 4 plant machines | 6 months | KSh 25,000 a month | Extra |
| Plant equipment servicing and oil change | 5 days | KSh 15,000 | None |
| Plant puncture repairs | 5 days | KSh 10,000 | None |
The KSh 2,430 NTSA fee is charged per machine, so 3 machines cost KSh 7,290 in exam fees and 6 machines cost KSh 14,580. The fees above apply to Kenyan citizens. Sensei says non-citizens pay 20% more.
Boarding Fees and the Real Total Cost
Day scholars pay only the training fee and NTSA fees. Boarders pay KSh 8,000 a month for food and accommodation, or KSh 4,000 for the one-week single machine course. You also need your own safety boots. The college provides a helmet and a reflector jacket.
Here is what a typical student should budget, using the published figures:
- Standard course, day scholar: KSh 68,000 plus KSh 7,290 NTSA fees, a total of KSh 75,290.
- Standard course, boarder: KSh 75,290 plus KSh 8,000 boarding, a total of KSh 83,290.
- Premium course, day scholar: KSh 104,000 plus KSh 14,580 NTSA fees, a total of KSh 118,580.
- Premium course, boarder: the college quotes KSh 118,000 for premium boarders before exam fees, which comes to KSh 132,580 once the KSh 14,580 NTSA fees are added.
Paver machines and mobile cranes are not part of the standard or premium packages. They are charged as special machines at KSh 75,000 each.
Machines You Can Train On
Students choose the machines they want within their package. Sensei lists these machines across its Nakuru and Kitengela campuses:
- Earth-moving machines: excavators, motor graders, motor rollers, backhoe loaders, bulldozers, wheel shovels, track shovels, paver machines and dumpers.
- Lifting equipment: truck cranes, mobile cranes, tower cranes and forklifts.
- Agricultural machinery: farm tractors.
If you are aiming for road construction work, excavator, grader and roller are a common standard-course combination because contractors use all three on the same sites. Forklift is the most useful choice for warehouse and factory jobs.
Entry Requirements
- A national ID. You must be at least 18 years old.
- A driving licence or a school certificate for most machine courses. If you do not have a licence, you can take the plant operator plus driving packages.
- Safety boots for practical training.
Unlike the Kenya Institute of Highways and Building Technology (KIHBT), Sensei does not ask for a minimum KCSE grade for its plant operator courses. If you want a government college route, compare it with the KIHBT plant operator course requirements and fees.
Intakes and How to Apply
Sensei runs monthly intakes, with new plant operator classes reporting between the 4th and the 8th of each month. To apply:
- Choose your package and the machines you want.
- Call or email the campus you plan to attend to confirm the current fee, space in the next intake and payment details.
- Report with your ID, your driving licence or school certificate, and your safety boots.
- Pay NTSA exam fees for each machine when the college books your test.
Only pay through the official payment details the college gives you directly, and keep your receipts.
Other Sensei Courses and Fees
Sensei also runs shorter courses outside plant operation. These are the starting fees listed by the college:
| Course group | Fees from | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Driving courses | KSh 10,000 | 1 to 5 weeks |
| ICT courses | KSh 10,000 | 1 to 6 months |
| Hospitality courses | KSh 10,000 | 1 week to 6 months |
| Medical courses | KSh 20,000 | 3 to 6 months |
| Agricultural courses | KSh 25,000 | 3 to 6 months |
These general courses ask for a national ID and a KCSE certificate. For how Sensei’s driving fees compare with other schools, see the Five Star Driving School fee structure, and for the different licence classes, read our guide to driving licence categories in Kenya.
Sensei College Contacts
- Nakuru campus: 0729 891 301, Barnabas Centre along the Nairobi to Nakuru road.
- Kitengela (Nairobi) campus: 0717 951 055, Milimani Estate, Sensei Area.
- Email: info@senseicollege.co.ke
Once you qualify, plant operator vacancies with road contractors, quarries and county governments are posted regularly on JobinKenya.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the plant operator course at Sensei?
The standard course costs KSh 68,000 for any 3 machines over one month, and the premium course costs KSh 104,000 for any 6 machines over two months. NTSA exam fees of KSh 2,430 per machine are extra.
Does Sensei offer boarding?
Yes. Boarding costs KSh 8,000 a month for food and accommodation, or KSh 4,000 for the one-week single machine course.
Do I need a driving licence to train as a plant operator at Sensei?
Most machine courses ask for a national ID plus a driving licence or school certificate. If you have no licence, the plant operator plus driving packages cover it.
When are Sensei intakes?
Intakes run every month, with new students reporting between the 4th and the 8th.
Where are Sensei campuses?
The main campus is at Barnabas Centre in Nakuru, and the second campus is at Milimani Estate, Sensei Area, in Kitengela.
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