President William Ruto has announced the establishment of Nyandarua University, a new institution set to begin admitting students by September this year.
Speaking to residents Ol Kalou Town, Nyandarua County during his third-day tour of the Mt Kenya region on Thursday, April 3, 2025, the head of state confirmed that the government had approved the establishment of the university and that the gazettement process was complete.
This he said comes after local leaders appealed to him to establish a university in the region to enhance access to higher education for the county’s residents.
“Watu wa Nyandarua mlisema mnataka university Nyandarua kama county zingine. On Friday, I authorised the establishment of the Nyandarua University, and this has been gazetted. You will now have a university in this county from September this year,” Ruto stated.
According to the president, the institution will begin accepting students by September.
“Students will be formally accepted by September. This came after your leaders approached me on the same,” he added.
UON
Previously, the upcoming university operated as a constituent college of the University of Nairobi (UoN). The move towards full university status followed a technical inspection conducted by the Commission for University Education (CUE) on January 28, 2025.
The country’s journey towards establishing a fully-fledged university began in 2015 when the Nyandarua County Government partnered with the University of Nairobi to serve as a mentor institution. This collaboration aimed to ensure the new university met the required national academic and infrastructure standards.
Nyandarua Governor Moses Kiarie Badilisha played a role in facilitating the establishment of the university. He repurposed the Agricultural Training Centre in Ol-Joro Orok as the initial campus for the proposed institution.
Ruto’s Nyandarua visit
Ruto’s five-day development tour of the Mt. Kenya region has entered its third day. In Nyandarua County he is expected to oversee and initiate several key projects. This visit is part of his broader agenda to commission completed projects, inspect ongoing ones, and launch new initiatives across nine counties, including Nyandarua.
“We will support the County Government of Nyandarua with Ksh800 million to complete the stalled J.M. Kariuki Memorial County Referral Hospital. This will ensure that the people of Nyandarua have access to quality and affordable medical care.
“Assessed the ongoing construction of the 142-bed capacity J.M. Kariuki Memorial County Referral Hospital that will offer in-patient, outpatient, imaging, laboratory, emergency, and maternal and child healthcare services. Also flagged off the Last Mile Electricity Connectivity Project at the Jua Kali Stage, Ol Kalou Town and inspected the Ol Kalou Affordable Housing,” a statement on Ruto’s X account read.