The University of Nairobi (UoN) has fallen behind Embu and Murang’a Universities in the latest Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings 2024, published by Times Higher Education on Wednesday, November 27. The rankings evaluated 129 universities across 22 African countries based on key performance metrics.
Top Universities in Kenya
- Embu University emerged as Kenya’s best-ranked institution.
- Strathmore University followed in second place.
- Mount Kenya University and the United States International University (USIU) came third and fourth, respectively.
- Kibabii University secured the fifth spot.
- Murang’a University and Kabarak University ranked sixth and seventh.
- The University of Nairobi placed eighth locally, ahead of Kabianga University and Lukenya University, which rounded out the top ten.
Ranking Criteria
The rankings considered a range of factors, grouped into five key pillars:
- Resources and Finance: Evaluated financial stability and the ability to deliver high-quality education.
- Access and Fairness: Assessed inclusivity and equitable access for students.
- Student Engagement: Measured faculty-to-student ratios and the quality of interactive learning experiences.
- Ethical Leadership (new): Focused on universities’ commitment to integrity and social responsibility.
- Africa Impact: Examined institutions’ contributions to solving local and regional challenges.
Institutions with strong financial capabilities and effective teaching models ranked higher. Metrics also emphasized skills-building to prepare students for the workforce and broader societal contributions.
Regional Highlights
South African universities dominated the top positions, with the University of Johannesburg ranked first overall, followed by the University of Pretoria and the University of Witwatersrand. Other institutions in the top ten included:
- University of Global Health Equity (Rwanda)
- University of Rwanda (Rwanda)
- University of Ghana (Ghana)
- Makerere University (Uganda)
- Ashesi University (Ghana)
- University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa)
- SMAD University (Somalia)
Country Rankings
South Africa emerged as the leading nation for higher education in the region, achieving an average score of 65/100. Ghana followed with 57 points, while Kenya secured third place with 54 points.
The rankings reflect a shift in Kenya’s higher education landscape, highlighting the growing prominence of institutions outside traditional giants like the University of Nairobi. Institutions like Embu and Murang’a Universities have distinguished themselves by prioritizing financial sustainability, student engagement, and workforce readiness.
