Kenyatta University (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Nairobi. It acquired the status of university in 1985, being the third university after University of Nairobi (1970) and Moi University (1984). As of October 2014, it was one of 23 public universities in the country.
Location
The main campus of Kenyatta University sits on over 1,000 acres (1.6 sq mi), at Kahawa, in the Kasarani Sub-county, north of Nairobi City County, approximately 17.5 kilometres (10.9 mi), by road, northeast of the central business district of Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, off of the Nairobi-Thika Road.
The list of KU campuses includes the following locations:
- Main Campus – Kahawa, Nairobi
- Ruiru Campus – Ruiru
- Parklands Campus – Parklands
- Kitui Campus – Kwa Vonza
- Mombasa Campus – Mombasa
- City Centre Campus – Nairobi Central Business District
- Nyeri Campus – Nyeri
- Nakuru Campus – Nakuru
- Kericho Campus – Kericho – Closed
- Dadaab Campus –Dadaab
- Embu Campus – Embu
The Arusha and Kigali campuses in Tanzania and Rwanda respectively were closed in 2018.
History
In 1965, the British government handed over the Templar Barracks in Kahawa, to the newly formed government of Kenya. The southern part of the facility remains in military use, as the Kahawa Barracks. The other part of the barracks were converted into a college called Kenyatta College, which offered Advanced Level (A-Level) secondary education at Form 5 and 6 level, as well as some undergraduate diploma courses. In 1978 the entire Faculty of Education of the University of Nairobi was transferred to Kenyatta College, and its name was changed to Kenyatta University College, following an Act of Parliament. The school became the only institution in Kenya training teachers at degree level, and discontinued all other courses. Degrees offered at Kenyatta were in the name of the University of Nairobi.
In 1985, it was granted full university status and was renamed Kenyatta University.
U.S. President Barack Obama, whose late father, Barack Obama, Sr. (an economist) and paternal relatives are from Kenya, visited Kenya in 2015; while there, he visited the university’s main campus.
Academics
As of March 2016, the university has 12 campuses offering bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees. The degrees awarded include those in medicine and law. The university has open-learning, e-learning which is known as the digital school, school-based, part-time and full-time teaching. Kenyatta University is accredited by the Kenya Commission of University Education, the Inter-University Council for East Africa, the Africa Association of Universities, the International Association of Universities and the Commonwealth Universities.
Library
Kenyatta University’s library is one of the largest in Africa and offers scholarly information resources and services to its students and researchers. In addition to lending services, the library offers E-services and has branches in the respective satellite campuses.
Schools and institutes
As of March 2016, the university maintains the following schools:
| School of Humanities and Social Sciences (2002) | School of Public Health (2004) |
| School of Visual And Performing Arts (2008) | School of Business(2005) |
| School of Education (1970) | School of Economics (1998) |
| School of Pure And Applied Sciences(2003) | School of Agriculture and Enterprise Development(1984) |
| School of Engineering And Technology (1985) | School of Law – Parklands(2009) |
| School of Environmental Studies (2003) | School of Medicine (2011) |
| School of Hospitality & Tourism(2010) | School of Virtual & Open Learning(2011) |
| School of Architecture and the Built Environment (2016) – Ruiru Campus | School of Creative, Film and Media Studies (2015) – Ruiru Campus |
| School of Nursing Sciences (2017) | School of Security, Diplomacy and Peace Studies(2018) |
Institutes and centers
The university hosts institutes and centers such as;
- Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University
- Africa Centre for Transformative and Inclusive Leadership (ACTIL)
- Chandaria Business Innovations and Incubation Centre (CBIIC)
- Center for Refugee Studies and Empowerment
- Cisco Networking Academy
- Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development
- Center for International Programmes and Collaboration (CIPC)
- Centre for Gender Equity & Empowerment
- National Phytotherapeutics Research Centre
Degrees and courses
The following courses are offered by the university and accredited by the Commission for University Education in Kenya (CUE)
Doctorates and PhD – 14
Master’s degree – 94
Bachelor’s degree – 117
Postgraduates Diploma – 12
Student life
International students
The Centre for International Programmes and Collaboration is a unit under the office of the Vice Chancellor, responsible for coordinating international activities, collaborations and linkages.
Athletics
Kenyatta University partnered with IAAF as an athletics-village in the 2017 world under 18 championship Nairobi. The athletes were hosted in the Nyayo hostels and used the campus facilities for training.
Kenyatta University offers the following disciplines:
Men’s sports
Football, rugby, hockey, volleyball, netball, handball, basketball, tennis, table tennis, squash, badminton, chess, scrabble, darts, boxing, bodybuilding, taekwondo, swimming, athletics (track and field), scrabble, karate, Roll Ball, woodball, judo, wrestling, Goalball, baseball, softball.
Women’s sports
Football, rugby, hockey, volleyball, netball, handball, basketball, tennis, table tennis, squash, badminton, chess, scrabble, darts, boxing, fitness modelling, Taekwondo, swimming, athletics (track and field), Scrabble, Karate, Roll Ball, woodball, Judo, goalball, baseball, softball Seminars Short – term Courses in coaching, Sports management, training and Sports leadership are offered.
Sports facilities
- Two swimming pools
- One gymnasium
- Five soccer fields
- Eight tennis courts
- Four volleyball courts
- One rugby field
- Two badminton courts
- One squash court
- Three netball fields
- Two athletics & track fields(IAAF Track)
- Three handball courts
- Two hockey fields
- Four basketball courts
- Two common rooms for indoor sports & board games.
Sports achievements
- 2012 – National Champions, Kenya University Women’s Games
- 2011 – National Champions, Kenya University Games
- 2010 – 3rd Best University, East Africa University Games
- 2009 – National Champions, Kenya University Games
- 2006 – 6th Best University, East Africa University Games
- 2004 – 2nd Best University, East Africa University Games
Alumni
The following individuals are some of the “prominent alumni” at the Kenyatta University website:.
- Mwai Kibaki – former President of Kenya, 2002 to 2013
- Kalonzo Musyoka – former Vice president of Kenya
- Jakaya Kikwete – President of the United Republic of Tanzania, 2005 to 2015
- Daniel arap Moi – former President of Kenya, 1978 to 2002
- Benjamin Mkapa – former President of Tanzania, 1995 to 2005
- Daudi Kabaka – musician and band leader of Kenyatta University Band.
- Professor Joseph Maina Mungai – former Vice-Chancellor, University of Nairobi
- Dr. Mostafa Tolba – former executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme
- Dr. Geoffrey William Griffin – founder director of Starehe Boys’ Centre and School
- Dr. James Mwangi – managing director and chief executive officer, Equity Bank Group
- Dr. Eddah Gachukia – academic director, Riara Group of Schools
- Esther Ngumbi – entomologist and winner of the 2018 Society for Experimental Biology Presidential Award
- Stephen Ogweno – Health practitioner and NCD advocate
- Phillip Ndegwa – founding chairman, Kenyatta University Council, 1985 to 1994
- Onesmo K. ole-MoiYoi – former chairman, Kenyatta University Council, 1994 to 2010
- Dr. Harris Mule – former chancellor of Kenyatta University
Notable staff and professors
- Prof Mike Boit – sports science, former athlete. Received an honorary Doctorate of Science (DSc) from the University of Glasgow in recognition of his contributions to the academic research of sports and its development in Kenya 2014
- Ambassador Joseph Magutt Kenya’s ambassador to the Republic of Germany
- Prof Olive Mugenda – former vice-chancellor (2009-2016), Board Chair KU hospital
Management
The chancellor is Benson Wairegi. The Vice Chancellor is Professor Paul Wainaina who was reinstated on November 3, 2022, after being suspended on July 12, 2022, due to a tussle with the government over university’s land.[25] During his suspension, Professor Waceke Wanjohi was appointed to act as the Vice Chancellor. Professor Wainaina had succeeded Professor Olive Mugenda, the first female Vice Chancellor of a public university in Kenya, who retired after the end of her tenure in January 2016. There are four Deputy Vice Chancellors and four Registrars, to assist the Vice Chancellor carry out his mandate.
The Deputy Vice Chancellors are:
- DVC Academic Affairs: Professor John Okumu
- DVC Administration: Professor Fatuma Chege
- DVC Finance and Development: Professor Godfrey Mse
- DVC Research, Innovation & Outreach: Professor F.Q Gravenir
Businesses and investments
The university owns and operates the following income-generating businesses and investments:
- Kenyatta University Funeral Home
- North Coast Beach Hotel – Mombasa
- Uni-City Shopping Mall & Office Complex – Nairobi
- Kenyatta University Conference Center – Nairobi (100 rooms)
- Kenyatta University Bookstore – Nairobi
- Television station KUTV
- Kenyatta University Children’s Hospital – Nairobi (Under construction)
- Kenyatta University Dairy Farm – (In development)
- Kenyatta University Hospital[29] (KUH)
