List of universities and colleges in Kenya

This is a list of universities and colleges in Kenya. Kenya has several universities and other institutions of higher learning. There are 36 public universities, 3 specialised universities,7 public university constituent colleges,30 chartered private universities and 4 universities with Letter of Interim Authority (LIA).

These universities are established through institutional Acts of Parliament under the Universities Act, 2012 which provides for the development of university education, the establishment, accreditation and governance of universities. According to a 2004 report on reforming higher education in Kenya, the rapid expansion of university education in the country was a spontaneous response to the increasing demand for higher education necessitated by the increasing flow of students from schools.

From July 2014, all government and private institutions offering technical and vocational education and training were put under TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training). This act normalized this sector as it had become tainted by unaccredited institutions offering substandard education as revealed by The Standard and The Star. there were 540 institutions accredited by the Authority.

Public universities NO Name Area Year chartered Original name Year established Campus1 University of NairobiNairobi 1970 Royal Technical College, Royal College, Nairobi 1956 Main campus, Kikuyu campus, Chiromo campus, Lower Kabete campus, Upper Kabete campus, Parklands campus, Kenya Science Campus, Kisumu campus, Mombasa campus2 Moi University Eldoret Kesses 1984 Moi University 1984 Odera Akang'o Yala Campus, Mombasa Campus, Kericho Campus, Nairobi Campus, Alupe Campus, Bomet University College3 Kenyatta University Nairobi 1985 Kenyatta University College 1965 Main campus, Parklands campus, Ruiru campus, City campus, Kitui campus, Mombasa campus, Nakuru campus. 4 Egerton University Njoro 1988 Egerton Farm School, Egerton Agricultural College 1939 Main campus - Njoro, Nakuru Town Campus College (NTCC), Kenyatta campus.5Maseno University Maseno 1991 Maseno Govt. Training Institute, Siriba Teachers College 1955 Oginga Odinga University6 Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and TechnologyKiambu 1994 Jomo Kenyatta College of Agriculture 1981 Multimedia University College of Kenya, Meru University College of Science and Technology, Murang'a University College 7 Technical University of Mombasa Mombasa 2007 Mombasa Institute of Muslim Education (MIOME) 1948 8 Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology Kakamega 2007 Western College of Arts and Applied Sciences 19729Dedan Kimathi University of Technology Nyeri 2012 Kimathi Institute of Technology, Kimathi University College of Technology (2007) as a constituent college of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology 1972 Main Campus, Nyeri10Chuka University Chuka 2012 Chuka University College, Chuka University College (2004) as a constituent college of Egerton University 2004 Main Campus, Chuka11Laikipia UniversityLaikipia2013LSFTC (1965), AHITI (1979), Egerton University Campus (1990), Laikipia University College, as a constituent college of Egerton UniversityMain Campus, Nyahururu town Campus, Naivasha Campus, Nakuru Campus, Maralal Campus12South Eastern Kenya UniversityKitui2013Ukamba Agricultural Institute (Ukai), South Eastern University College (Seuco)2008SEKU Main Campus, Kitui Town Campus, Mtito-Andei Campus, Migwani Center13Kisii UniversityKisii2012Primary Teachers College, Secondary Teachers College (Diploma), Kisii University College,1942 by BrightonMain Campus, Eldoret Campus, Nairobi Campus, Kapenguria Campus, Kericho Campus14Multimedia University of KenyaNairobi2013Central Training School (CTS) to serve East African Posts Training School (1948), (KCCT) Kenya College of Communications Technology (1992), Multimedia University College of Kenya2008(MMU) Main Campus15University of KabiangaKericho2013The Government School, Kabianga (1925), Kabianga Teachers' Training College (1929), Kabianga Framers Training Centre (1959), Kabianga Campus of Moi University (2007), Kabianga University College2009(UoK) Main Campus, Kapkatet Campus, Kericho Satellite Campus, Satellite Campus16Karatina University Karatina2013 Moi University Central Kenya Campus, Karatina University College2008Main Campus, Karatina Town Campus, Itiati Campus, Nanyuki Campus, Riverbank Campus17Meru University of Science and TechnologyMeru2013(MECOTECH) Meru College of Technology (1979), (MUCST) Meru University College of Science and Technology2008MUST Main Campus, Meru Town Campus18Kirinyaga UniversityKerugoya2016Kirinyaga Technical Institute (1971), Kirinyaga University College (2011)2016Main Campus, Kutus town, Kirinyaga County19Pwani UniversityKilifiKilifi County2013Kilifi Institute of Agriculture 2007Main Campus(Kilifi), Mombasa Campus20Murang'a University of TechnologyMurang'a2016Murang'a College of Technology, Murang'a University College21Machakos UniversityMachakos2016(MTTI) Machakos Technical Training Institute (1979), (MUC) Machakos University College2013MksU Main Campus22University of EldoretEldoret, Kenya2013Chepkoilel Constituency College of Moi University2013Main Campus (Chepkoilel, Eldoret), Eldoret Town Campus23Kibabii UniversityBungoma County201524Maasai Mara UniversityNarok2009Narok Teachers Training College, Moi University Constituent College 2013Narok25The Co-operative University of KenyaNairobi2016 Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology 2016 CUK Main campus, Karen 26 Rongo UniversityRongo, Migori2016 Moi Institute of Technology (MIT), Rongo University College1983(RU) Main Campus27Technical University of KenyaNairobi2013Kenya Polytechnic1961Main Campus (Nairobi)28Garissa UniversityGarissa2017Main Campus (Garissa)29Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and TechnologyBondo2013Bondo University College2009Main Campus (Bondo)30Taita Taveta UniversityVoi2016Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology(JKUAT) Taita Taveta Campus2007Main Campus (Voi)31Tharaka UniversityTharaka2022Tharaka University2017Main Campus Marimanti32University of EmbuEmbu2016Embu Agricultural Staff Training (EAST) College1947Main Campus (Embu)33Tom Mboya UniversityHomabay County2022Tom Mboya University College2015Main Campus (Homabay) 34Kaimosi Friends UniversityVihiga2022Kaimosi Friends University College (KAFUCO)2015Main Campus (Kaimosi)35Alupe UniversityBusia2022Alupe University College2015Main Campus (Busia)36Bomet UniversityBomet2026Bomet University College2017Main Campus (Bomet)

Public Specialised Universities These are government-owned universities, but run on different models from mainstream universities +No.NameLocationSpecialisationYear Chartered1.National Defence University - KenyaNakuruMilitary Sciences20212.National Intelligence Research UniversityNairobiIntelligence 20243.Open University of KenyaKonzaVirtual Educational20234.Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and TechnologyKonzaScience and Technology postgraduate 2026

Private universities + University name Original name Year established+1 K.A.G East University East Africa School of Theology 20242Mount Kenya University (MKU)Thika Institute of Technology20063Uzima University College (constituent college of CUEA)4University of Eastern Africa, Baraton Baraton Animal Husbandry Research Station 19805 Daystar University Daystar University College 19896 Africa Nazarene University African Nazarene University 19947 Scott Christian University Scott Theological College 19628 Kabarak University Kabarak University 20019 United States International University Africa (USIU - Africa) United States International University, Nairobi Campus 197010 Strathmore University Strathmore College 196111 Zetech UniversityZetech College199012 Kiriri Women's University of Science and Technology Kiriri Women's University of Science and Technology 200113 Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) Catholic Higher Institute of Eastern Africa 198414 Pan Africa Christian University Bible College 197815 Kenya Methodist University Kenya Methodist University 199716 Adventist University of Africa Adventist University of Africa 200517 Gretsa University Gretsa University 200618 Great Lakes University of Kisumu Tropical Institute of Community Health and Development 199819 Presbyterian University of East Africa Presbyterian College 199420 St. Paul's University St Paul's Divinity School, St Paul's United Theological College 190321 KCA University Kenya College of Accountancy 198922 Africa International University Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology 198323Riara University201224Management University of AfricaManagement University of Africa199325Amref International University (AMIU)Amref International Training Centre (AITC)201726Umma University (UMMA)Thika College for Sharia and Islamic Studies199727Aga Khan University1958(Pakistan)28Kenya Highlands University (KHU)Kenya Highlands Bible College1932

Public University Constituent Colleges These are fully independent institutions that rely on already established universities for curriculum development, and once fully mature, they are granted charter to confer degrees. + No. Constituent CollegeLocationMentor Institution1.Turkana University CollegeLodwarMasinde Muliro University of Science and Technology2. Mama Ngina University CollegeGatunduKenyatta University3.Koitalel Arap Samoei University CollegeNandiUniversity of Nairobi4.Nyandarua University CollegeNyandaruaUniversity of Nairobi5.Kabarnet University CollegeBaringoMoi University6.Makueni University CollegeWoteSouth Eastern Kenya University

Approved universities in Kenya

The following tables list universities approved by the Commission for University Education (CUE) in accordance with the Universities Act (Cap 210) as of 12 March 2026.Commission for University Education (2026). "Approved Universities in Kenya as at 12 March 2026".

Public chartered universities No. University Year Chartered 1 University of Nairobi 2013 2 Moi University 2013 3 Kenyatta University 2013 4 Egerton University 2013 5 Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology 2013 6 Maseno University 2013 7 Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology 2013 8 Dedan Kimathi University of Technology 2012 9 Chuka University 2013 10 Technical University of Kenya 2013 11 Technical University of Mombasa 2013 12 Pwani University 2013 13 Kisii University 2013 14 University of Eldoret 2013 15 Maasai Mara University 2013 16 Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology 2013 17 Laikipia University 2013 18 South Eastern Kenya University 2013 19 Meru University of Science and Technology 2013 20 Multimedia University of Kenya 2013 21 University of Kabianga 2013 22 Karatina University 2013 23 Kibabii University 2015 24 Rongo University 2016 25 The Co-operative University of Kenya 2016 26 Taita Taveta University 2016 27 Murang’a University of Technology 2016 28 University of Embu 2016 29 Machakos University 2016 30 Kirinyaga University 2016 31 Garissa University 2017 32 Alupe University 2022 33 Kaimosi Friends University 2022 34 Tom Mboya University 2022 35 Tharaka University 2022 36 Bomet University 2026

Private chartered universities