Kenyatta University

The main campus of Kenyatta University sits on over 1,000 acres (1.6 mi²), 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.^[13][14]

The list of KU campuses includes the following locations:^[15]

• 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

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.^[16]

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 the 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.^[17][18]

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.^[19]

As of March 2016, the university had 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,^[20] 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.^[21]

Library

Kenyatta University's library is one of the largest in Africa and offers scholarly information resources and services to its students and researchers.^[22] In addition to lending services, the library offers E-services and has branches in the respective satellite campuses.^[23]

Kenyatta University is established under the Universities Act, 2012 and the Kenyatta University Charter. In accordance with the law, the President of Kenya serves as the visitor of the university.^[26] The university's governance structure is divided into oversight and executive management functions.

The Chancellor serves as the ceremonial head of the university and is responsible for conferring degrees. Oversight and policy formulation are carried out by the University Council, which is chaired by a Chairperson. The Council comprises nine members appointed by the Cabinet Secretary for Education, including principal secretaries for education and finance, members appointed through an open process, and the Vice-Chancellor in an ex officio capacity. The Council is responsible for employing staff, approving statutes and policies, and overseeing the university’s budgetary framework.^[27]

The Vice-Chancellor acts as the chief academic and administrative officer, overseeing the daily operations of the university. In support of the Vice-Chancellor, a Management Board composed of the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Registrars, and the Chief Finance Officer assists with operational decision-making and administration.^[28]

The Vice-Chancellor is assisted by four Deputy Vice-Chancellors responsible for Academic Affairs, Administration, Finance and Development, and Research, Innovation and Outreach. These officers coordinate the university's academic programs, curriculum review, quality assurance, financial management, infrastructure development, research activities, and community engagement initiatives.^[29][30]

Additional senior administrative positions include the University Registrars, the University Librarian, and the Finance Officer, who report to the Vice-Chancellor and assist in implementing university policies and strategic objectives. The university also maintains directorates such as Corporate Affairs, which handle communications, stakeholder engagement, and institutional branding.^[31]

Historically, the university appointed the first female Vice-Chancellor of a public university in Kenya, who retired in January 2016.^[32]

The university owns and operates the following income-generating businesses and investments:^[33]

• 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^[34] (KUH)

The following individuals are some of the prominent alumni of the Kenyatta University website:^[35]

• Dr. Eddah Gachukia - academic director, Riara Group of Schools
• Dr. Geoffrey William Griffin - founder director of Starehe Boys' Centre and School
• Daudi Kabaka - musician and band leader of Kenyatta University Band
• Mwai Kibaki - former president of Kenya, 2002 to 2013
• Jakaya Kikwete - president of the United Republic of Tanzania, 2005 to 2015
• Fredrick Muyia Nafukho - professor, Foster School of Business
• Benjamin Mkapa - former president of Tanzania, 1995 to 2005
• Daniel arap Moi - former president of Kenya, 1978 to 2002
• Professor Joseph Maina Mungai - former vice-chancellor, University of Nairobi
• Kalonzo Musyoka - former vice president of Kenya
• Dr. James Mwangi - managing director and chief executive officer, Equity Bank Group
• Esther Ngumbi - entomologist and winner of the 2018 Society for Experimental Biology Presidential Award
• Dr. Mostafa Tolba - former executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme

• 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 of KU Kospital