Mantrac, owned by Egypt’s billionaire Mansour family, to roll out AI Caterpillar fleet in Kenya

Mantrac Kenya, the Kenyan arm of the Mansour Group, a conglomerate controlled by Egypt’s billionaire Mansour family has revealed plans to introduce AI-enabled Caterpillar machines in Kenya starting in 2026, as the country expands roads, housing and energy projects.

The Egyptian conglomerate, through its local arm in Kenya, said the rollout will coincide with the 100th anniversary of Caterpillar’s presence in the country.

Market backdrop and government priorities

The launch reflects Kenya’s push to accelerate infrastructure delivery under its economic transformation agenda. Public spending on roads, housing and renewable energy is rising, creating demand for technology that reduces delays and lowers costs.

Mohamed Ibrahim, managing director of Mantrac Kenya, said the new fleet will build on Caterpillar’s existing telematics and automation tools already in use in underground construction and quarrying. “Our AI-enabled fleet will give contractors faster, safer and more cost-effective solutions,” he said during Caterpillar’s centenary celebration in Nairobi.

The program will cover semi-autonomous excavators, dozers and loaders fitted with predictive maintenance, geofencing and remote monitoring systems. The machines will target construction, mining, agriculture and energy — industries where Caterpillar has long supplied heavy equipment.

Caterpillar’s legacy in Kenya amid competition and risks

Caterpillar machinery has been central to Kenya’s industrial growth since the colonial period, deployed in rail, road and power projects. Mantrac, which runs Caterpillar dealerships in nine African markets including Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania and Egypt, is leveraging that legacy to scale AI-enabled services. 

It also operates export hubs in the UK and Dubai to serve regional demand. But the competition is getting tougher. Companies like Komatsu, Volvo CE, and Chinese companies are sending connected machines to Kenya to take advantage of the country's better infrastructure. Caterpillar is using its dealers and online tools to keep its share of the market. Things are still not right. 

Because AI-powered machines are so expensive up front, it may be harder for smaller contractors to buy them unless there are more ways to rent or lease them. People who run semi-autonomous machines also need training, and there are other risks, like cybersecurity and data governance.

Mansour family's empire around the world 

Loutfy Mansour started the Mansour Group in 1952. It has since grown into one of Egypt's largest private companies, with operations in more than 100 countries. Its automotive division is one of General Motors’ biggest dealers worldwide and distributes Chevrolet, Opel, Peugeot, MG and Isuzu vehicles locally.

Now led by billionaire brothers Mohamed, Yasseen and Youssef Mansour, the group’s businesses span automotive, retail, fast food and machinery distribution. The Mansour family's bet on Africa's infrastructure and digital shift is shown by the planned rollout of Caterpillar machines with AI. 

In Kenya, where saving money and being more efficient are becoming more important in public works, the arrival of smarter machines could change how projects are done in the construction and mining industries across East Africa.