Mathenge Institute of Technology has two engineering departments which offers engineering course, They are Automotive Engineering Department and Electrical & Electronics Department.
When the government advised leaders to start Harambee Institutes of Science and Technology (HIST), his excellence Hon. Mwai Kibaki who was the area MP took the challenge and extended the idea to his Othaya constituency, mobilized resources, and identified a suitable name and objective of the college. In pursuit of this, he identified a number of prominent personalities with whom he discussed this noble idea, formed a steering committee which completed its work in February 1984.
Through the spirit of Harambee, the institute’s buildings were constructed and institute officially opened on November 25th 1984. The institute is located 18 km from nyeri town and 12 km from othaya town off the Nyeri Othaya Road along Kagere Munyage Road.
Automotive Engineering Department
Automotive department was started as one of the departments when the institute opened its doors to the first group of students in 1987.
The programs offered then were craft 1, 2 and 3 certificates in motor vehicle mechanics. Students were required to pass one stage before proceeding to the next stage.
The program was replaced by the Technical Education Programme in 1990. The TEP Programme has been replaced by the modular program from 2011 to date.
Currently the department offers course in Artisan certificate, Craft &Diploma certificate.
| COURSES | DURATION | MINIMUM QUALIFICATION ENTRY |
| Diploma in Automotive Engineering. | 3 Modules | C- Minus |
| Craft Certificate in Automotive Engineering. | 2 Modules | D Plain |