University of Nairobi

The inception of the University of Nairobi dates from 1956, with the establishment of the Royal Technical College, which admitted its first group of A-level graduates for technical courses in April the same year. The Royal Technical College was transformed into the second university college in East Africa on 25 June 1961 by the Scottish mathematician Prof James Morton Hyslop[5] formerly of the University of Witwatersrand under the name Royal College of Nairobi[6] and was admitted into a special relation with the University of London whereupon it began preparing students in the faculties of Arts, Science and Engineering for award degrees of the University of London. Meanwhile, students in other faculties such as the Faculty of Special Professional Studies (later renamed Faculty of Commerce) and Faculty of Architecture continued to offer diplomas for qualifications of professional bodies/institutions.

On 20 May 1964, the Royal College Nairobi was renamed University College Nairobi as a constituent college of inter-territorial, Federal University of East Africa, and henceforth the enrolled students were to study for college degrees of the University of East Africa and not London as was the case before. In 1970, it transformed into the first national university in Kenya and was renamed the University of Nairobi. The university tops in Kenya's university ranking and is ranked 7th in Africa and 1698 in the world according to Webometrics Ranking of World Universities.[7]

Former offices

View from main entrance

View from main quadrangle

The idea of an institution for higher learning in Kenya goes back to 1947 when the Kenya 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 the college was laid in April 1952.

During the same period, the Asian Community of Kenya was also planning to build a college for Arts, Science and Commerce as a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. To avoid duplication of efforts, Gandhi Memorial Academy Society partnered Kenyan Governments. 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.

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 the Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, Sir John Lockwood, the Royal Technical College, Nairobi was transformed. On 25 June 1961, the college became the second university 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 for bachelor's degrees awarded by the University 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 the University 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 and Tanzania each had its own national universities. This development saw the birth of the University of Nairobi set up by an Act 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.[8]

It is[9] a body corporate established under the Universities Act 2012 of the Laws of Kenya and the Charter.

Through module II and III programmes, opportunity has been opened to thousands of Kenyans and foreigners, on a paying basis, who meet university admission requirements, but who have not been able to access university education due to restricted intake into the regular programmes that is determined by limited resource allocation by Government. In addition to the regular and evening and weekend programmes, classes are conducted at the University's Extra-Mural Centres located at the country's county headquarters.

The university is admitting students to undertake courses in the proposed Koitalel Arap Samoei University College for law, business management and education courses that began in January 2015. This is a joint project of the County Government of Nandi and the University of Nairobi

The university underwent a major restructuring in 1983, resulting in a decentralisation of the administration, by the creation of six colleges headed by principals.

The six colleges are: College of Architecture and Engineering, College of Health Sciences, College of Biological and Physical Sciences, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences and College of Education and External Studies.

In 2017, Times Higher Education ranked the university within the 801–1000 band globally.[10]

• Elijah Ateka, Professor of Plant Virology
• Avril, singer and actress
• Stellah Wairimu Bosire-Otieno, physician and corporate executive
• Ali Rasso Dido, National Assembly member
• Philo Ikonya, author and human rights activist
• Wahu Kagwe, singer, actress, songwriter, entertainer
• Jacob Kaimenyi, former Cabinet Secretary Education, Lands & Natural resources. Academicians
• Michael Kamau, Cabinet Secretary
• Dr Jemimah Kariuki, gynaecologist
• Dr Thomas Kariuki, Director of Programmes at the African Academy of Sciences
• Maina Kiai, human rights activist and UN Special Rapporteur
• Felix Koskei, former Cabinet Secretary, Kenya.
• Joseph Ole Lenku, former Cabinet Secretary and Governor Kajiado County.
• PLO Lumumba, Professor of Law
• Wangari Maathai, Nobel peace prize laureate
• James Wainaina Macharia, Cabinet Secretary.
• Fred Matiangi, Cabinet Secretary.
• Adan Mohammed, Cabinet Secretary.
• Musalia Mudavadi, former Vice President under President Moi, former Deputy Prime Minister to Rt Hon. Raila Odinga.
• Sylvia Mulinge, corporate executive
• Margaret Muthwii, Vice-Chancellor of Pan Africa Christian University
• Willy Mutunga, former Chief Justice of Kenya
• MaryJane Mwangi, corporate executive
• John Nasasira, Ugandan Cabinet Minister
• Ruth W. Nduati, physician and HIV researcher
• Eva Njenga, physician and first female chair of Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board
• Apolo Nsibambi, Prime Minister of Uganda
• Shitsama Nyamweya, neurosurgeon
• Borna Nyaoke-Anoke, physician and medical researcher
• Catherine Nyongesa, physician and radiation oncologist
• Washington Yotto Ochieng, Professor of Engineering at Imperial College London
• Troy Onyango, writer and lawyer
• James Orengo, long serving Kenyan legislator and senior council.
• Teodosia Osir, lawyer and corporate executive
• Henry Rotich, Kenya's Finance Cabinet Secretary.
• William Ruto, Deputy President Republic of Kenya.
• Stephen Sang, constitutional lawyer and the Second Governor of Nandi County
• Anne Waiguru, former Cabinet Secretary and Governor of Kirinyaga County.
• Hassan Wario, anthropologist, former Cabinet Secretary, Kenya and serving Kenyan ambassador. .

• University of Newcastle, Australia
• University of Nottingham
• University of Northampton

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