CHUONI 254

Top Universities in Kenya

Here is the top 10 most prestigious and highly ranked public universities in Kenya, according to 4IC.ORG 2023 May Universities Ranking. These universities offer a wide range of courses and programs, and they are known for their high academic standards. Interestingly, all of the top 10 public universities in Kenya were established before 2013, and only 5 out of 10 were established before 2000. This means that they have a long history of providing quality education to Kenyan students. In addition, these universities are most stable and established compared to newly chartered universities. They are mature and have enough resources to provide students with the best possible education. 

The new funding model

The Kenyan government has made significant changes to the way higher education is funded in the country, with a new model set to begin in the 2023/2024 academic year. The changes are intended to make higher education more sustainable and equitable over the long term.The new model will be student-centered and will take into account the level of need of individual students. This shall combine: 

• Scholarships – free money that does not need to be paid back but awarded based on financial need.
• Loans – required to be paid back over time with interest and are often given to help students cover the remaining cost of their education after scholarships and other forms of funding have been exhausted.
• Household contributions – contribution from parents, guardians etc.

Under the new funding model, students will be categorized into three levels of need, as shown below:

Summary,

1. Vulnerable students. Vulnerable students, who comprise 45,000 students joining universities and 42,000 students joining TVET institutions, will be FULLY FUNDED by the government. Their parents will not be required to contribute anything towards their education. This unprecedented move ensures that students from low-income households have equal access to higher education, with no financial contributions required from their families. The funding will come in the form of government scholarships and loans, providing much-needed relief to families at the bottom of the socioeconomic pyramid.
2. Less vulnerable students. Less vulnerable students will receive government scholarships of up to 53% and loans of up to 40% of their university education cost. Their households will be required to contribute 7% of the cost. Under the TVET category, these students will be eligible for government scholarships of up to 50% and loans of up to 30%. The remaining 20% of the cost will be covered by their households.
3. Able students. Students from Able households, joining University will be funded through a government scholarship up to a maximum of 38% of the cost of the program and 55% in form of loans. Their households will pay only s75. The difference between the less able and able is that the less needy students will get more scholarship, and less loan. The able students will get more loans and less scholarship. Under the TVET category, the able students joining TVET will be funded to the tune of 32% for government scholarship and 48% for government loans. The remaining 20% of the cost will be covered by their households.

 

Dr. William Ruto

Will You Be Affected by the Kenyan Government's Shift in University Funding Policy? 

The Kenyan government has recently announced that it will no longer provide financial support to university students from wealthy families as a way to address financial difficulties facing higher education institutions and reduce reliance on government funds. This means that students from wealthy backgrounds will be required to pay the full cost of tuition at both public and private universities, while students from low-income backgrounds will only be responsible for paying 20% of fees.

To receive government capitation or loans through the University Funding Council, students will be vetted, with those from wealthy families being excluded from assistance. The government estimates that low-income, academically qualified students will need to pay an average of KSh 28,000 per year, while wealthy students will be expected to pay the full cost of tuition or a larger share.

Additionally, the government believes that there is evidence to suggest that many households in Kenya, particularly those in the middle and upper income brackets, may not require financial assistance to pay for their children's university education. For example, in Kabarak, students in primary school pay KSh 175,000 annually and KSh 200,000 in secondary school, but only pay KSh 50,000 when they enroll in university with government sponsorship.

This policy change follows the government's decision to abolish HELB and TVET funding and establish a National Funding Council to provide a credit transfer framework and support academic progression from certification to PhD programs. The government believes that this move will help ease financial strains on higher education institutions and reduce reliance on government funding.

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Egerton University Main Gate, Njoro Campus

Egerton University is the oldest public institution of higher learning in Kenya. It was founded as a Farm School in 1939 by Lord Maurice Egerton of Tatton, a British national who settled in Kenya in the 1920s. The university was established in1987 through an Act of Parliament.

The main campus of the university is located in Njoro, approximately 25 kilometres, southwest of the town of Nakuru. Currently, the University currently serves approx. 19,000 undergraduate and 560 postgraduate students. It houses the Faculties of Agriculture, Arts and Social Sciences, Education and Community Studies, Engineering and Technology, Environment and Resources Development, Science and Veterinary Medicine & Surgery.

The University’s Nakuru Town Campus College comprises the Faculties of Commerce, Health Sciences and Law. The Nairobi City Campus (NCC) offers programmes from the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences and Commerce. The Kenyatta Campus, located six kilometres southeast of Njoro Campus, hosts the Centre for Capacity Building. The University offers a wide range of programmes at certificate, diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels. The University also offers other short courses at certificate level.

It is worth noting that the institution has made tremendous contributions towards increasing access to higher education in Kenya having mentored Chuka, Kisii and Laikipia into chartered Universities. 

Some of the notable alumni include,

1.                   Prime Minister of Tanzania – Hon. Fredrick Sumaye

2.                   Gov. Anne Waiguru ( Kirinyaga )

3.                   Hon. Wilson Sossion

4.                   Professor and Gov. John Krop Lonyang'apuo ( West Pokot )

5.                   Gov.  Salim Mvurya ( Kwale )

6.                   Co-founder and CEO Bonfires Adventures – Simon Kabu

7.                   Gov & CS National Treasury & Planning – Hon & Amb. Ukur Yatani

The university has been ranked among the top universities in Africa and the world. Recently, the Webometrics ranking released in January 2022 placed the institution at Position 3 in Kenya , Position 66 in Africa, and 2444 in a total of over 30,000 universities ranked globally.

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The following undergraduate and postgraduate programmes are offered at Egerton University.

Diploma Courses

Diploma in Agricultural Education & Extension
Diploma in Animal Health
Diploma in Animal Science and Technology
Diploma in Business Management
Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery
Diploma in Computer Science
Diploma in Dairy Technology
Diploma in Dryland Resources Management
Diploma in Eco-tourism and Hospitality Management
Diploma in Education (Arts)

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Diploma in Education (Primary)
Diploma in Farm Resource Management
Diploma in Gender, Women and Development Studies
Diploma in Horticulture
Diploma in Human Resources Management
Diploma in Library and Information Science
Diploma in Military Science
Diploma in Modern Chemistry Laboratory Technology
Diploma in Procurement and Supplies Management
Nursing Diploma – Kenya Registered Community Health (In-service)

Degree Programmes

B. Sc in Agriculture
B. Sc. in Animal Sciences
B. Sc. in Natural Resources Management
B. Sc. in Water and Environmental Engineering
B. Sc. in Wildlife Enterprise and Management
B.A. in Communication & Media
B.A. in Economics & Sociology
B.A. in Economics and History
B.A. in English and Communication
B.A. in Gender, Women and Development Studies
B.A. in History
B.A. in History and International Studies
B.A. in Kiswahili and Communication
B.A. in Peace Education
B.A. in Sociology and Religious Studies
B.Ed. (Arts)
B.Ed. (Early Childhood Development & Education)
B.Ed. (Primary)
B.Ed. (Science)

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B.Sc. in Software Engineering
B.Sc. (Agricultural Education and Extension)
B.Sc. (Clothing, Textiles and Interior Design)
B.Sc. (Community Development)
B.Sc. in Actuarial Science
B.Sc. in Applied Aquatic Sciences
B.Sc. in Applied Computer Science
B.Sc. in Biochemistry
B.Sc. in Biomedical Science and Technology
B.Sc. in Computer Science
B.Sc. in Criminology and Security Studies
B.Sc. in Dairy Technology and Management
B.Sc. in Dryland Resources Management
B.Sc. in Economics and Statistics
B.Sc. in Ecotourism and Hospitality management
B.Sc. in Environmental Science
B.Sc. in Food Science and Technology
B.Sc. in Foods, Nutrition and Dietetics
B.Sc. in Geography
B.Sc. in Horticulture
B.Sc. in Agricultural Economics
B.Sc. in Agricultural Engineering
B.Sc. in Agriculture
B.Sc. in Animal Health Management
B.Sc. in Instrumentation and Control Engineering
B.Sc. in Integrated Forest Resources Management
B.Sc. in Manufacturing Engineering and Technology
B.Sc. in Nursing
B.Sc. in Soil Environment and Land Use Management
B.Sc. in Statistics
Bachelor of Agribusiness Management
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Bachelor of Business Information and Management
Bachelor of Business Management
Bachelor of Catering and Hotel Management
Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Cooperative Management
Bachelor of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
Bachelor of Industrial Technology
Bachelor of Laws

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Bachelor of Library and Information Studies
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
Bachelor of Military Science
Bachelor of Psychology
Bachelor of Purchasing and Supplies Management
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine
Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering
Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery
BSc. (Agriculture and Human Ecology Extension)

Postgraduate Diploma Programmes

Postgraduate Diploma in Education
Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental and Social Sciences Research Methods
Postgraduate Diploma in Probation Practice and Correctional Studies
Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental and Sustainable Development
Postgraduate Diploma in Gender, Poverty and Development

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Postgarduate Programmes

Masters

Joint Degree Master Programme in Limnology and Wetland Management
M. A. in Urban Management
M. Sc. in Soil Sciences
M.A. in Gender, Women and Development Studies
M.A. (Guidance and Counseling)
M.A. Criminology and Criminal Justice
M.A. in Applied Linguistics
M.A. in Economics
M.A. in English Language and Linguistics
M.A. in History
M.A. in Kiswahili
M.A. in Literature
M.A. in Sociology
M.A. Security Management
M.A./M.Sc. in Geography
M.Ed. (Curriculum and Instruction)
M.Ed. (Educational Foundations)
M.Ed. (Educational Management)
M.Ed. (Guidance and Counseling)
M.Ed. (Science Education)
M.Sc. in Animal Breeding and Genetics
M.Sc. (Agricultural Education)
M.Sc. (Agricultural Extension)
M.Sc. (Community Studies and Extension)
M.Sc. in Agribusiness Management
M.Sc. in Agricultural and Applied Economics
M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics
M.Sc. in Agricultural Engineering
M.Sc. in Agricultural Information and Communication Management
M.Sc. in Agronomy
M.Sc. in Animal Nutrition
M.Sc. in Animal Physiology
M.Sc. in Applied Mathematics
M.Sc. in Biochemistry
M.Sc. in Chemistry
M.Sc. in Crop Protection
M.Sc. in Dryland Agro-Pastoral Systems
M.Sc. in Dryland Farming
M.Sc. in Dryland Integrated Land Management Systems
M.Sc. in Dryland Resources Management
M.Sc. in Engineering Systems and Management
M.Sc. in Environmental and Occupational Health
M.Sc. in Environmental Science
M.Sc. in Food Science
Master of information Science
Master of Information Systems
Master of Journalism and Mass Communication
Master of Knowledge Management
Master of Research and Public Policy
M.Sc. in Plant Pathology
M.Sc. in Pure Mathematics
M.Sc. in Soil and Water Engineering
M.Sc. in Statistics
M.Sc. in Water Resources and Environmental Management
Master of Business Administration
Masters in Measurement and Evaluation
Masters of Agricultural Engineering
M.Sc. in Horticulture
M.Sc. in Limnology
M.Sc. in Livestock Production Systems
M.Sc. in Medical Parasitology
M.Sc. in Natural Resources and Peace
M.Sc. in Natural Resources Management
M.Sc. in Nutritional Sciences
M.Sc. in Physics
M.Sc. in Plant Biotechnology
M.Sc. in Plant Breeding
Master of Human Resource Management

Doctor of Philosophy Programmes

Ph.D. (Counseling Psychology)
Ph.D. (Curriculum and Instruction)
Ph.D. (Educational Foundations)
Ph.D. (Educational Management)
Ph.D. (Educational Psychology)
Ph.D. (Guidance and Counseling)
Ph.D. (Mathematics Education)
Ph.D. (Agricultural and Rural Innovation)
Ph.D. (Agricultural Education)
Ph.D. (Agricultural Extension)
Ph.D. (Community Studies and Extension)
Ph.D. (Science Education)
Ph.D. in Agribusiness Management
Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics
Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering
Ph.D. in Agronomy
Ph.D. in Animal Science
Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics
Ph.D. in Biochemistry
Ph.D. in Business and Management (Course Work Option)
Ph.D. in Business and Management (Research Option)
Ph.D. in Chemistry
Ph.D. in Physics
Ph.D. in Plant Biotechnology
Ph.D. in Plant Breeding
Ph.D. in Plant Pathology
Ph.D. in Pure Mathematics
Ph.D. in Religious Studies
Ph.D. in Sociology
Ph.D. in Soil Science
Ph.D. in Statistics
Ph.D. in Crop Protection
Ph.D. in Dryland Agriculture and Resource Management
Ph.D. in Economics
Ph.D. in English Language and Linguistics
Ph.D. in Environmental and Occupational Health
Ph.D. in Environmental Science
Ph.D. in Food Science
Ph.D. in Geography
Ph.D. in History
Ph.D. in Horticulture
Ph.D. in Kiswahili
Ph.D. in Limnology
Ph.D. in Literature
Ph.D. in Medical Parasitology
Ph.D. in Natural Resources Management
Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences
Ph.D. in Urban Management
PhD in Gender, Women and Development Studies
Doctor of Philosophy in Dryland Resources Management
Doctor of Philosophy in Natural Resources and Peace

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Umma University

When asked to think of a university, most people can name institutions of higher learning in two groups: the "big name" schools, and the schools located close to them.  A lot of people don't realize that there are over 70 universities in Kenya alone and there are many amazing public and private universities out there that people have rarely heard about. 

Many students aim for admission to old and well established institution, but the supply of open seats often does not meet the demand from applicants. CHUONI KENYA strives to help students find the best public and private universities fit for each applicant. Sometimes that means suggesting schools that a student or family hasn't heard of.  But, just because you haven't heard of it does not mean it's not a great institution – some of them are offering great courses with low cut off points. Students and parents who keep an open mind and explore unique universities may just find a hidden gem that is perfect for providing a much more fulfilling experience for some students.  

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The below list is based on the published Webometrics January 2022 world university rankings, from the least Popular university to the most popular university, and the category of each institution.

No.	Key	Name	Categoty
70	MARIST	Marist International University College	Private
69	AIU	Africa International University	Private
68	KAFUCO	Kaimosi Friends University College	Public
67	MNUC	Kenyatta University - Mama Ngina University College	Public
66	AUC	Alupe University College	Public
65	KSUC	Koitaleel Samoei University College	Public
64	THRKUC	Tharaka University College	Public
63	TMUC	Tom Mboya University College	Public
62	ILU	International Leadership University	Private
61	RIU	Raf International University	Private
60	ILU	International Leadership University	Private
59	LUKENYA	Lukenya University	Private
58	KHEU	Kenya Highlands University	Private
57	UZIMA	Uzima University College	Private
56	TEAU	The East African University Kitengela	Private
55	KAGEU	Kag East University	Private
54	GU	Garissa University	Public
53	KWUST	Kiriri Women'S University Of Science & Technology	Private
52	GRETSA	Gretsa University	Private
51	UMMA	Umma University	Private
50	SCU	Scott Christian University	Private
49	#N/A	Adventist University Of Africa	Private
48	AMIU	Amref International University	Private
47	KYU	Kirinyaga University	Public
46	RU	Riara University	Private
45	PAC	Pan Africa Christian University	Private
44	MUA	Management University Of Africa	Private
43	ZETECH	Zetech University	Private
42	PIU	Pioneer International University	Private
41	TUC	Tangaza University College	Private

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