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Kenyatta University

Coordinates: 1°10′59″S 36°55′34″E / 1.183056°S 36.926111°E / -1.183056; 36.926111
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Kenyatta University
Other name
KU
Former name
  • Kenyatta College (1965–1975)[1]
  • Kenyatta University College (1975–1985)[1]
MottoElimu ni Nguvu
Motto in English
"Education is strength"
TypePublic
Established1 September 1985; 39 years ago (1985-09-01), as Kenyatta University[1]
Academic affiliations
ACU
ChairmanShem Migot-Adholla[2]
ChancellorAmb.Francis K. Muthaura, Ebs[3]
Vice-ChancellorPaul Wainaina[4]
Academic staff
1,500+ (2016)[5]
Administrative staff
3,500+ (2015)[6]
Students67,905 (2023)
Location
Kahawa, Nairobi
,
Kenya

1°10′59″S 36°55′34″E / 1.183056°S 36.926111°E / -1.183056; 36.926111
Campus13 campuses, 1,000 acres (400 ha)+
LanguageEnglish
Colors  Sky blue
MascotLion & elephant
Websitewww.ku.ac.ke

Kenyatta University (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Nairobi, Kenya.[7] 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.[8]

Location

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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.[9][10]

The list of KU campuses includes the following locations:[11]

  1. Main Campus - Kahawa, Nairobi
  2. Ruiru Campus - Ruiru
  3. Parklands Campus - Parklands
  4. Kitui Campus - Kwa Vonza
  5. Mombasa Campus - Mombasa
  6. City Centre Campus - Nairobi Central Business District
  7. Nyeri Campus - Nyeri
  8. Nakuru Campus - Nakuru
  9. Kericho Campus - Kericho - Closed
  10. Dadaab Campus -Dadaab
  11. Embu Campus - Embu

Ruiru campus was renamed as Kenyatta Model School for play groups,pre- primary and primary learners in 2024. The Arusha and Kigali campuses in Tanzania and Rwanda respectively were closed in 2018.[12]

History

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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.[13][14]

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.[15]

Academics

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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,[16] 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.[17]

Library

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Kenyatta University Post Modern Library
A view of Kenyatta University Library from the Central Administration Complex.

Kenyatta University's library is one of the largest in Africa and offers scholarly information resources and services to its students and researchers.[18] In addition to lending services, the library offers E-services and has branches in the respective satellite campuses.[19]

Schools and institutes

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As of April 2024, the university maintains the following schools:

School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
School of Business, Economics and Tourism
School of Education
School of Pure And Applied Sciences
School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences
School of Health Sciences
Digital School of Virtual & Open Learning
School of Engineering and Architecture
Graduate School

Institutes and centers

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The university hosts institutes and centers such as;

  1. Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University
  2. Africa Centre for Transformative and Inclusive Leadership (ACTIL)
  3. Chandaria Business Innovations and Incubation Centre (CBIIC)
  4. Center for Refugee Studies and Empowerment
  5. Cisco Networking Academy
  6. Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development
  7. Center for International Programmes and Collaboration (CIPC)
  8. Centre for Gender Equity & Empowerment
  9. National Phytotherapeutics Research Centre

Degrees and courses

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The university offers 14 doctorate and PhD courses, 94 master's degree courses, 117 bachelor's degree courses and 12 postgraduate diploma courses as accredited by the Commission for University Education in Kenya (CUE)[20]

Student life

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International students

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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

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Kenyatta University partnered with IAAF as an athletics-village in the 2017 world under 18 championship Nairobi.[21] The athletes were hosted in the Nyayo hostels and used the campus facilities for training.

Kenyatta University offers the following disciplines:

Men's sports

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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

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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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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The following individuals are some of the "prominent alumni" at the Kenyatta University website:[22]

Notable staff and professors

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  • 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

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KU Central Administration block
Kenyatta University Central Administration Parking Lot-The Junior Library and Education building can be seen in the background

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.[23] During his suspension, Professor Waceke Wanjohi was appointed to act as the Vice Chancellor.[24] 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.[4][25] 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

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The university owns and operates the following income-generating businesses and investments:[26]

  1. Kenyatta University Funeral Home
  2. North Coast Beach Hotel - Mombasa
  3. Uni-City Shopping Mall & Office Complex - Nairobi
  4. Kenyatta University Conference Center - Nairobi (100 rooms)
  5. Kenyatta University Bookstore - Nairobi
  6. Television station KUTV
  7. Kenyatta University Children's Hospital - Nairobi (Under construction)
  8. Kenyatta University Dairy Farm - (In development)
  9. Kenyatta University Hospital[27] (KUH)
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  • Main entrance
    Main entrance
  • Main library
    Main library
  • The Campanile
    The Campanile
  • Central Administration Complex
    Central Administration Complex
  • Student's Computer Centre
    Student's Computer Centre
  • Education Building
    Education Building

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Brief history to the present day Kenyatta University". Kenyaplix. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  2. ^ Kenyatta University. "Change of Guard at Kenyatta University Council". Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  3. ^ Manyuira, Wilson (11 September 2013). "Kenyatta University Commissions First Uni City Development". 98.4 Capital FM (Nairobi). Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  4. ^ a b Wanzala, Ouma (8 February 2018). "Five confirmed as vice-chancellors". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  5. ^ Njoroge, Kiarie (22 May 2016). "KU offers Mugenda job as chief of healthcare". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  6. ^ Wanzala, Ouma (3 December 2015). "KU seeks applications for vice-chancellor to replace Olive Mugenda". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  7. ^ "Commission for University Education - Status Of Universities (Universities Authorized to Operate in Kenya) - Status Of Universities (Universities Authorized to Operate in Kenya)". www.cue.or.ke. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  8. ^ Nganga, Gilbert (2 October 2011). "Kenya: Double Student Intake Kicks Off At Kenyatta". University World News (UWN). Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  9. ^ "Kenyatta University" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Location of Kenyatta University Main Campus" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  11. ^ KU (25 March 2016). "The Campuses of Kenyatta University". Nairobi: Kenyatta University (KU). Archived from the original on 21 March 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  12. ^ Mutegi, Mugambi (13 December 2020). "Kenyatta University to open Rwanda campus next year". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi.
  13. ^ KU (25 March 2016). "Short History of Kenyatta University". Nairobi: Kenyatta University (KU). Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  14. ^ Kenyatta University Act (PDF). 1985.
  15. ^ Baker, Peter (26 July 2015). "Obama Delivers Tough-Love Message to End Kenya Trip". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  16. ^ "Kenyatta University Digital School of Virtual and Open Learning". ku.ac.ke. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  17. ^ KU (7 June 2013). "Accreditation of Kenyatta University". Nairobi: Kenyatta University (KU). Archived from the original on 28 April 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  18. ^ "The 10 most beautiful universities in Africa". Times Higher Education (THE). 23 November 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  19. ^ "Library". Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  20. ^ "Programmes developed and mounted by Universities in Kenya in accordance with the Universities Act". www.cue.or.ke. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  21. ^ "IAAF World U18 Championships Nairobi 2017". www.wu18nairobi2017.com. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  22. ^ KU (25 March 2016). "Kenyatta University: Alumni Board Members". Nairobi: Kenyatta University (KU). Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  23. ^ "KU VC Prof Paul Wainaina who was suspended after tiff with Uhuru set to return". Nation. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  24. ^ "Uhuru-KU land drama: Prof Waceke Wanjohi appointed Acting VC". Nation. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  25. ^ Mugambi Mutegi, and Kiarie Njoroge (25 March 2016). "My track record speaks for itself, says Prof Mugenda". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  26. ^ Mutegi, Mugambi (23 March 2016). "KU plans diversifying into commercial dairy farming". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  27. ^ "Kenyatta University Teaching Research & Referral Hospital". kuh.co.ke. Retrieved 1 September 2017.

See also

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