Profile & History

KU HISTORY & PROFILE

When you come to Kenyatta University, you discover that you have arrived at a special place. The University’s Main Campus is set on over 1,000 acres with a pleasant and serene surrounding conducive to academic and intellectual growth.

Kenyatta University is home to some of the world's top scholars, researchers and experts in diverse fields. We pride ourselves in providing high quality programmes that attract individuals who wish to be globally competitive. To achieve this, we have invested heavily in infrastructure and facilities to offer our students the best experience in quality academic programmes under a nurturing environment in which our students learn and grow.

Kenyatta University is one of the leading universities in Kenya judging by the quality of our graduates. Our aim is not only to maintain this position, but to improve further and attain our vision of becoming a world-class university that is committed to quality and relevance.

What gives graduates of Kenyatta University a cutting edge over their peers is the University’s emphasis on practical hands-on knowledge and the skills training imparted to its students. Towards this noble end, Kenyatta University has established meaningful links with industrial partners, who guide the University on practical, professional requirements which need to be built into programmes at Kenyatta University.

As a result, the University’s courses give our graduates a distinct advantage in the workplace. Already, many of our graduates are exposed to new employment opportunities by accessing industrial attachments during their study, or through course related placements.

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OBJECTIVES

The objectives of Kenyatta University are to:

Promote the development and expansion of higher education opportunities through initiation of new programmes and alternative modes of delivery using, among others, modern technologies.
Enhance the level of participation in research, dissemination and preservation of knowledge for both academic and societal development.
Promote human resource development and proactive management practices, as well as good governance, to enhance service delivery.
Provide an environment that nurtures excellence and high standards of professionalism in teaching, learning, research and community service.
Create equal opportunities for those qualified to pursue university education. Institutionalise quality assurance practices in planning, implementation and evaluation of the University’s core functions in order to meet the set goals.
Promote the development of the students welfare systems for the attainment of academic excellence and an all-round education.
Provide facilities in collaboration with other approved institutions for enhancing access to higher education

ACCREDITATION

Kenyatta University is accredited to the following:

VISION STATEMENT

"To be a dynamic, an inclusive and a competitive centre of excellence in teaching, learning, research and service to humanity. ”

MISSION STATEMENT

"To provide quality education and training, promote scholarship, service, innovation and creativity and inculcate moral values for sustainable individual and societal development.”

IDENTITY STATEMENT

"A community of scholars committed to the generation and dissemination of knowledge and cultivation of wisdom for the welfare of society.”

PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

“Sensitivity and responsiveness to societal needs and the right of every person to knowledge.”

History of Kenyatta University:

The history of Kenyatta University dates back to 1965 when the British Government handed over the Templer Barracks to the Government of Kenya. The Barracks were converted to a college known as Kenyatta College. It offered Secondary and Teacher Training Education leading to the award of Secondary Teacher 1 (S1) and Secondary Teacher Advanced Level (SA) certificates. Following an Act of Parliament in 1970, Kenyatta College became a constituent college of the University of Nairobi and its name changed to Kenyatta University College.

The institution admitted its first batch of 200 students in 1972 to pursue studies leading to the award of Bachelor of Education degree of the University of Nairobi. By 1975, the Teacher Training Education Programmes, S1 and SA, were phased out to give way to the Bachelor of Education degree programme and a two-year Undergraduate Diploma in Education.

In July 1978, the Faculty of Education of the University of Nairobi was transferred to Kenyatta University College. This made the institution the only one in the country training teachers at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels at the time. Kenyatta University College achieved full University status on August 23, 1985, establishing Act became operational on September 1, 1985. Kenyatta University was inaugurated in December 1985 with three faculties namely; Education, Science and Arts.

The university has supported the development of several constituent colleges to fully fledged university status, these include Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (1998), became a fully-fledged university; Pwani University (2007 - January 2013); Machakos University (2009- xx). In 2013, Kenyatta University was granted a Charter in accordance with the provisions of Section 19 of the Universities Act 2012.

In 2002, the University reorganized the then faculties into three schools. In 2005, the number of Schools increased to seven. In 2017, the number of schools had increased to nineteen. Following restructuring in 2022, the number of schools reduced to nine as follows:
School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
School of Business, Economics and Tourism
School of Education
School of Engineering and Architecture
School of Health Sciences
School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences
School of Pure And Applied Sciences
Graduate School
Digital School of Virtual and Open Learning