President William Ruto granted charters to the National Intelligence Research University and the Islamic University of Kenya, establishing them as Kenya’s newest universities on Tuesday.
The event at the State House highlights Kenya’s higher education sector’s expansion since 1970, bringing the total number of chartered universities to 66.
“These charters are not only recognition but also a commitment to societal advancement through high-quality research and innovation,” President Ruto said.
He urged the institutions to “educate professionals who will drive our nation’s transformation” and to “position Kenya as a regional and global hub of intellectual and technological advancement.”
The event at the State House highlights Kenya’s higher education sector’s expansion since 1970, bringing the total number of chartered universities to 66.
With nearly 600,000 students now enrolled across 79 universities in Kenya, President William Ruto has called on the Commission for University Education (CUE) to intensify efforts to elevate institutions to charter status, reinforcing high standards in the nation’s higher education system.
President Ruto underscored the importance of advancing education quality across universities and highlighted the Islamic University of Kenya’s mission to foster inclusivity, ethical values, and solidarity in a multicultural world. He emphasized the role of the university in shaping graduates committed to social justice and national unity.
President Ruto also presided over the inauguration of the National Intelligence Research University (NIRU), a timely initiative addressing Kenya’s evolving security landscape, marked by complex challenges such as terrorism and cyber threats.
The establishment of the National Intelligence Research University (NIRU) is timely given Kenya’s complex security challenges, which include terrorism and cyber threats.
President Ruto noted that NIRU will equip intelligence officers with critical skills needed to safeguard national security, further aligning its mission with Kenya’s Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
“As we celebrate this milestone today, the journey ahead demands an unwavering pursuit of excellence, knowledge, and transformation,” President Ruto stated.
