A hundred years of remarkable attainments at Mantrac Ltd and in Caterpillar Dealership in Kenya
Media roundtable: On September 2nd 2025, Mantrac Ltd in Kenya organized a Media roundtable at its Nairobi head office in an endeavour to demystify Mantrac and Caterpillar business in Kenya, according to Rosemary Assue, the company’s Business Operations Manager, who moderated the event. A week later on September 9th, 2025, the company joyously celebrated 100 years of operations in the country and eastern Africa.
Mantrac Ltd. in Kenya is a part of the Mantrac Group, which is a family-owned conglomerate owned by the Mansour Group. Mantrac Ltd. in Kenya is the sole authorized dealer for the Caterpillar Brand Equipment and range of products in the country. As an Egyptian-based conglomerate, the Mansour Group established Mantrac and is the driving force behind its global success.
The company’s success in the country has been courtesy of among other factors research & development efforts which have led to great innovations. A tour of the service workshop, led by Nelson Maina (the Workshop Manager) identified among other sections– the inspection of components sections where the components are stripped and analyzed and failure of equipment is generated and further analyzed; here parts’ listing is done. Also in place are the assembly areas; the electric bay; the undercarriage bay; the buckets pins repairs and the hydraulic cylinder bay among others.
The Mantrac S.O.S. laboratory, founded in 2023, was a major attraction. “Here we check and analyze all types of machines and equipment. Our state- of -the art equipment & machines analyze oils and coolants from all components. We’ve realized that half, 50 per cent, of engine failures result from using the wrong oils and coolants,” affirmed Paul Mbithi who heads the lab. According to him, engines and their components endure very high temperatures of up to 100 degrees Celsius and cannot be well cooled with water which boils at only 93 degrees Celsius. The lab is committed to educating all Mantrac & Caterpillar clients on engine health.
“Most of our clients and others in the heavy equipment sector lack adequate information on engine health. We, as the lab, travel to sites to enlighten people and since 2024 have been inviting customers to our lab in order to educate them,” Mbithi affirmed. “Effectively, this lab reduces the time used in analyzing engines,” added.
A long history: Mantrac Kenya MD Mohammed Ibrahim who has been with the Mantrac Group for 26 years (working all over the world) and with Mantrac in Kenya for the last two years recalled that Caterpillar (popular as Cat) was born from a 1925 merger between the Holt Manufacturing Company and the C.L. Best Tractor Company. Wikipedia indicates that Cat’s history began in 1904 with Benjamin Holt’s invention of the first track-type tractor, which was nicknamed “Caterpillar” by a bystander for its caterpillar-like movement. Holt trademarked the name in 1910, and the company was formally established when his company merged with CL Best to become Caterpillar Tractor Company in 1925, later changing to its current name, Caterpillar Inc.
“Americans in Kenya brought the business here in 1925 as Caterpillar and it has been engaged in providing equipment for a wide range of construction use from roads to ports; real estate; agriculture and power generation (generators),” he recalled. “We’re happy to be involved in building Kenya one century at a time and we shall carry this noble cause into the next century in partnership with the government, the private sector (including in loading FMCGs et al) and with SMEs involved in real estate and construction among other,” affirmed Ibrahim.
Remarkably, he explained, Mantrac has been operating in Kenya in the last 40 years
100 years of commendable work and attainments:
On 9th, September, 2025, the historic global commemoration of 100 years of Caterpillar and 100 years of Caterpillar’s presence in Kenya was a landmark event in Nairobi at the Mantrac head office. The event gathered senior government representatives, members of the diplomatic corps, Caterpillar executives, Mantrac leadership, customers, partners, and members of the Media, signalling Caterpillar’s century long partnership with Kenya.
Further to officially welcoming guests at the event, Ibrahim highlighted Caterpillar’s role in Kenya’s growth story and reaffirmed Mantrac Kenya’s commitment to powering the next century of progress.
The Mantrac Group’s Chief Operating Officer, Nigel Lewis, also addressed the gathering. “The story of Caterpillar in Kenya mirrors our global journey; it is a story of vision transformed into reality. From roads and infrastructure that fuel the country’s growth, to expanding production at farms, to providing power for small communities and even modern data centres, our machines and power generation solutions have helped turn different governments’ vision and people’s ambitions into realities, and tangible opportunities for the next generation. This centennial is not only a celebration of the past but a promise to continue building Kenya’s future together,” assured Lewis.
According to him, Mantrac is honoured to be part of Kenya’s growth and progress story. “We recently signed a plan to sponsor 1000 pupils over the next five years, and we will do whatever it takes, from classroom building and finishing, to water supply, to power provision whether solar or regular, to reach this goal,” he revealed.
“It is a privilege to mark 100 years of doing what we do best together with our trusted partner Mantrac. This long-term investment in Kenya has created continuity and impact, ensuring we remain close to local markets and responsive to customer needs. At Caterpillar, we believe in doing the right thing even when nobody is watching, and that commitment extends beyond business. Through the Caterpillar Foundation, we have invested over K sh 3,102 million (M) (US $ 24 M) since 2015 to support communities across the countries where Mantrac operates. While our products may look different from a century ago, our mission remains the same: to power growth, uplift communities, and especially build Kenya, one century at a time,” affirmed Lavanya Ajesh, Africa Caterpillar, Vice President Distribution.
Infrastructure &Youth Empowerment was the relevant subject of a panel session at the event:
The panellists were Lavanya Ajesh, of Caterpillar Africa; MD Mohamed Ibrahim; Charles Hinga, Principal Secretary (PS), Housing; Frédérique Duranton, CFO of Mantrac Group; and 14-year-old innovator Samuel Omochi. Omochi highly impressed the audience in mock driving of his home-made backhoe loader onto the stage. Moderated by Tom Mboya, the discussions focused on et al, government vision, corporate leadership, and community inspiration.
Omochi explained how he built his machine out of scrap materials through months of trial and error, driven by a dream to one day become an engineer. His story moved both the audience and the panellists, sparking a series of powerful exchanges.
PS Hinga pledged to help Omochi and his family to henceforth live in proper housing with dignity, in tandem with Kenya’s wider decent housing ambitions. “Housing is not just four walls and a roof. It is dignity and opportunity,” he said. “The Kenya government has already built over 200,000 housing units, and is due to raise, from the international market, US $ 1 billion (B) (ksh 129.25 B) to build more. We appreciate Caterpillar & Mantrac as some of our key partners in this journey,”Hinga assured.
MD Ibrahim stressed that Mantrac’s mission is wide and not just about machines. “When we build a road, we do not simply provide machines to lay asphalt. We improve lives, for instance in the Kisumu Road that now allows fishermen to bring their catch to Nairobi markets.” He affirmed that Mantrac Kenya is committed to supporting Omochi in his education & tuition, internship, and enrolment in ‘Caterpillar’s Technicians for the World’ program.
Equally, Ajesh celebrated Samuel’s determination and also highlighted Caterpillar’s global outlook. According to him, Caterpillar is active in more than 190 countries, effectively combining global expertise and local knowledge. “Today, our products look very different from what they were 100 years ago, and with AI (Artificial Intelligence) and digitalization, they will continue to evolve. We will keep powering into the future,”Ajesh averred.
According to Frédérique Duranton, the Mantrac Group’s is dedicated to nurturing talent. “Across our 12 territories we work with local talent, and Samuel is exactly the kind of self-driven, innovative young person who represents the future. Mantrac also has the financial capabilities to support customers in four different ways, including with the Almasi Finance in Kenya, as well as partnerships with four of the most important banks in Kenya,” he revealed.
The session also featured a live testimonial from a Caterpillar operator, who spoke of the comfort and reliability of Caterpillar machines, as well as the resilience and dedication required in the profession. “Samuel is inspiring, and I know he will go very far,” he said.
“Working with Caterpillar machines has been central to the success of our projects. Their reliability, efficiency, and the service support from Mantrac make a real difference in our operations. It is also encouraging to see the next generation of people as represented by Master Omochi take inspiration from these machines, because these symbolise opportunity and progress,” confessed Roben Aberdare CEO. Daniel Wamahiu. Roben Aberdare is one of Mantrac’s major contractor clients. He pledged to provide Omochi with a smartphone and laptop to enable him to explore technology and appreciate the world better.
Notably, the unifying message at close of the discussions was: “Samuel’s story reminds the world that Caterpillar’s centennial is not just about celebrating a century of machines, but also about celebrating people, communities, and the opportunities created along the way.”
A Day of Reflection and Partnership
The celebrations also featured cultural performances, networking sessions, and a showcase of Caterpillar’s history and innovations in Kenya. Guests reflected on Caterpillar’s contribution to roads, bridges, dams, schools, hospitals, and digital connectivity, and its continued role in supporting Kenya’s Vision 2030.
The day concluded with heartfelt recognition of some of Mantrac’s most valued customers, longest-serving employees, and the dedicated service team whose commitment underpins the company’s success. To close the celebrations on a high note, a raffle with prizes worth over K sh 1 million, a generator, and a trip to Malaga Spain was held, bringing excitement and joy to the audience and sealing the event as a truly memorable milestone.{Ends}
