Our Vision

To be a world class institution for testing and research on roads and other infrastructure

Our Mission

To facilitate development of quality roads and other infrastructure through testing, research and advise on construction materials, methods and delivery options.

Our Motto

Quality and Safety

Our Core Values

    • Dedication: Commitment to our mandate
    • Customer Focus: Client driven and always endeavor to exceed their expectations
    • Integrity: To uphold Professionalism, Honesty and Ethics in all our activities.
    • Teamwork: To embrace the spirit of teamwork and synergies in all our activities
    • Quality: Maintain high quality services to our clients and continuously improve our processes.
    • Innovation: Develop new ideas and ways of doing things more effectively and more efficiently. Receptive to new ideas
    • Accountability: Responsible use of resources for effectiveness while avoiding wastage and misuse.

Background

Public Works Department (PWD) was constituted in 1896 as one of the departments in Civil Administration under British East Africa. By 1947, Materials Branch was one of the major sections amongst the Roads Authority. Over time, the Branch became a department and has been placed under different ministries but has continued to perform its mandate as indicated in the relevant presidential circulars.

In 1970s, there was a proposal to transform Materials Branch to an authority named Kenya Roads Testing and Research Authority (KeTRA). In 2008, the Materials Testing and Research Department was placed as a department under Ministry of Roads amongst other departments such as Roads Department, Mechanical and Transport Department, Quality Assurance Department and Kenya Institute of Highways Building Technology.

About Us

Materials Testing and Research Division (MTRD) is responsible for testing and research on materials used in the road construction and the building industry to ensure quality and hence value for money.

The MTRD Head Office and Central Laboratories are located in Nairobi’s Industrial area, along Machakos Road. There are eight laboratories at the Headquarter; Bitumen, Soils, Concrete and Building materials, Chemistry, Paints, Physics, Foundation and Drilling, Traffic Survey and Pavement Monitoring Laboratories.

In addition to the Central laboratories, there are 16 regional laboratories located in Bungoma, Eldoret, Embu, Garissa, Kakamega, Kerugoya, Kisii, Kisumu, Machakos, Meru, Mombasa, Murang’a, Mwatate, Nakuru, Narok and Nyeri.

Our Laboratories

MTRD offers a full range of testing and consultancy services for infrastructure projects, which support the government’s long-term development blue print, Kenya vision 2030. To promote innovation and transformative development, our focus has been on research and performance of roads and infrastructure countrywide.

Collaboration with development partners and the national government has enabled expansive investment in state of the art equipment at our central laboratories as well as the regional laboratories. High reliance on road transport for movement of people and goods has led to increased traffic volumes and loading on our highways and durability of these roads is a critical focus for Roads Authorities to effectively serve the economy and transportation industry. Early pavement deformation and deterioration, which has been observed in our major highways calls for refinement of design methods and materials, used for road construction.

Recognizing this, MTRD is developing performance based material specifications, which relate laboratory analysis to field conditions in order to improve performance of road pavements. To begin with, the bitumen laboratory was recently refurbished and equipped with modern testing equipment to facilitate transition from empirical testing to performance based testing of asphalt and asphalt mixes for road construction. The Division also trained its personnel on the proper application of performance-based technologies to adequately meet the needs of the asphalt pavement industry.

In MTRD headquarters there are eight laboratories namely:

    • Soils lab
    • Concrete lab
    • Bitumen lab
    • Foundations lab
    • Physics lab
    • Chemistry lab
    • Paints lab
    • Pavement Condition lab