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 Coat of Arms of the University | |
Former name | |
|---|---|
| Motto | Latin:Unitate et labore |
Motto in English | "In unity and work" |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1 July 1970; 55 years ago (1970-07-01), as University of Nairobi |
Parent institution | Formerly theUniversity of London and theUniversity of East Africa |
| Chancellor | Prof.Patrick Verkooijen |
| Vice-Chancellor | ProfessorMargaret Hutchinson(Ag) |
| Undergraduates | 35,897 |
| Postgraduates | 11,003 |
| Address | University Wy, Nairobi, Kenya ,,Kenya 1°16′47″S36°49′00″E / 1.27972°S 36.81667°E /-1.27972; 36.81667 |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colors | Sky blue |
| Affiliations | ACU |
| Website | www |
 | |
TheUniversity of Nairobi (uonbi orUoN;Swahili:Chuo Kikuu cha Nairobi)[3] is acollegiateresearch university based inNairobi and is the largestuniversity inKenya.[4] Although its history as aneducational institution dates back to 1956, it did not become an independent university until 1970. During that year, theUniversity of East Africa was split into three independent universities: theMakerere University inUganda, theUniversity of Dar es Salaam inTanzania, and the University of Nairobi in Kenya.
During the 2023 academic year, the university had 49,047 students, of whom 35,897 wereundergraduates and 11,003 werepostgraduates.[5][6] The university launched several policy frameworks and introduced self-funded enrollment (also called 'module 2') to cope with the rising demand forhigher education in Kenya.[7]
The inception of the University of Nairobi dates back to 1956, with the establishment of the Royal Technical College, which admitted its first group ofA-level graduates for technical courses in April of the same year. The Royal Technical College was transformed into the second university college inEast Africa on 25 June 1961 by the Scottish mathematician ProfessorJames Morton Hyslop,[8] formerly of theUniversity of Witwatersrand under the name Royal College of Nairobi.[9] It joined theUniversity of London's'schemes of special relations' and began preparing students in the faculties ofArts,Science andEngineering for University of London award degrees. Meanwhile, students in other faculties such as the Faculty of Special Professional Studies (later renamed Faculty of Commerce) and Faculty ofArchitecture continued to offer diplomas for qualifications of professional bodies/institutions.
On 20 May 1964, the Royal College of Nairobi was renamed University College Nairobi as aconstituent college of the Federal University of East Africa. During this time, enrolled students studied for college degrees awarded by theUniversity of East Africa instead of the University of London. In 1970, it transformed into the firstnational university inKenya and was renamed the University of Nairobi. The university tops in Kenya'suniversity ranking. It is ranked 7th inAfrica and 1698 in the world according toWebometrics Ranking of World Universities.[citation needed]
The idea of an institution for higher learning inKenya goes back to 1947 when theKenyan colonial government drew up a plan for the establishment of a technical and commercial institute in Nairobi. By 1949, this plan had grown into a concept aimed at providing higher technical education for Kenya. In September 1951, a Royal Charter was issued to the Royal Technical College, Nairobi and the foundation stone of thecollege was laid in April 1952.
During the same period, theAsian community was also planning to build a college forArts,Science andCommerce as a memorial toMahatma Gandhi. To avoid duplication of efforts, Gandhi Memorial Academy Society partnered with the colonial government. Thus, the Gandhi Memorial Academy was incorporated into the Royal Technical College,Nairobi in April 1954, and the college proceeded to open its doors to the first intake of students in April 1956.[10]
Soon after the arrival of students at the college, the pattern of higher education in Kenya came under scrutiny. Through the recommendation of a working party formed in 1958, chaired by theVice-Chancellor of theUniversity of London, Sir John Lockwood, the Royal Technical College, Nairobi was transformed. On 25 June 1961, the college became the seconduniversity college in East Africa, under the name "Royal College Nairobi."
The Royal College Nairobi was renamed "University College, Nairobi" on 20 May 1964. On the attainment of "University College" status, the institution prepared students forbachelor's degrees awarded by theUniversity of London, while also continuing to offer college diploma programmes. The University College Nairobi provided educational opportunities in this capacity until 1966 when it began preparing students exclusively for degrees of theUniversity of East Africa, with the exception of the Department of Domestic Science. With effect from 1 July 1970, the University of East Africa was dissolved and the three African countries of Kenya,Uganda andTanzania each had its own national universities. This development saw the birth of the University of Nairobi set up by anAct of Parliament. Since 1970, the university had grown from a faculty based university serving a student population of 2,768 to a college focused university serving over 68,000 students.[11]
In 2001, the firstConfucius Institute in Africa opened as a collaboration between University of Nairobi andTianjin Normal University in China.[12]: 139
It is a body corporate established under theUniversities Act 2012 of the Laws of Kenya and the Charter.[13]
Through module II and III programmes, opportunity has been opened to thousands ofKenyans and foreigners especially from Sudan, on a paying basis, who meet university admission requirements, but who have not been able to accessuniversity education due to restricted intake into the regular programmes that is determined by limited resource allocation byGovernment. In addition to the regular, evening and, weekend programmes, classes are conducted at the University's Extra-Mural Centres located at the country's countyheadquarters.
The university is admitting students to undertake courses in the proposedKoitalel Arap Samoei University College forlaw,business management andeducation courses that began in January 2015. This is a joint project of theCounty Government of Nandi and the University of Nairobi.
The university underwent a major restructuring in 1983, resulting in decentralization of the administration, by the creation of six colleges headed by principals. Further, in 2021, the university was further restructured to faculties headed by Deans,[14] phasing out the colleges.
| University rankings | |
|---|---|
| Global – Overall | |
| QS World[80] | 1001–1200 (2024) |
| THE World[81] | 1201–1500 (2024) |
In 2023,Times Higher Education ranked the university within the 1201–1500 band globally.[81]
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