Kenyatta University

Infobox University
name =Kenyatta University


established =
city =Nairobi, Kenya
chancellor =Dr. Harris Mule
vice-chancellor =Prof. Olive Mugenda
campuses =main campus, along Thika Road =Parklands campus, located in Nairobi's Parlands suburb =Ruiru campus, located in Ruiru, a satellite town of Nairobi =Kitui campus

Kenyatta University, located in Nairobi, Kenya is the second largest public university in the country (after University of Nairobi).

The University is located about 20 kilometers from Nairobi's city centre, along the Nairobi-Thika road.

History

The University traces it history to a colonial military barracks known as the Templer Barracks. In 1965 Templer Barracks was converted into Kenyatta University College, primarily a teacher training institution. Kenyatta University college was then elevated to a constituent college of the University of Nairobi in 1970. In 1985 the university college was incorporated by the then president, Daniel arap Moi and was renamed Kenyatta University. This was done through establishment of the "Kenyatta University Act" [http://www.puib.go.ke/Legislation/Kenyatta/ku.pdf] by the National Assembly of Kenya.

Majority of its graduates were from the school of education, making the university a leader in education courses, Over time the college has diversified its course offerings so as to remain competitive and help achieve the national goals of eradicating ignorance.

Today the university has the following schools :-

* School of Humanities and Social Sciences
* School of Education
* School of Pure and Applied Sciences
* School of Environmental and Human Sciences
* School of Business
* School of Health Sciences
*School of Engineering

*School of Applied Human Sciences

Current status

The university has various modes of learning ranging from open-learning, e-learning, school-based, part-time and full-time teaching, this has transformed the institution into the second largest in Kenya. In 1997 it had about 8,000 students. As of 2007, has about 21,500 students.

Current initiative

Kenyatta University has embarked on a rapid expansion strategy aimed at making it a world class university and also at expanding the courses it offers. To achieve this, the university has created a solid ICT infrastructure which includes a campus network based on fibre optic technology; gigabit access to the network for both students and staff to facilitate access to the internet and localized information services.

It has also built a morgue along with the introduction of surgery and medicine courses. The university is also building more labs and reviving projects that had been stalled for years, including completion of an arts complex. More effort is also being put on the flow of information by investing in communication channels and getting feedback from students, this includes a community radio, which is streamed via the internet to the satellite campuses across Kenya.

Campuses

Kenyatta University is continually expanding and has opened additional campuses apart from its main campus. The campuses include:

Parklands Campus

Located in Parklands near Nairobi city Center: This campus offers business and I.T. related course at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.The campus also offers LLB(Bachelors of Law)

Ruiru Campus

This campus is located at Ruiru town, less than 5 kilometers from the main campus.It is generally an extension of the main campus.

This campus is not offering the full range of subjects offered at the main Kenyatta university.

Mombasa Campus

Situated in Mombasa town along the coastal strip of Kenya. It began operation in May 2007.

Kitui Campus

It is scheduled to begin operation in October 2007.

Pwani University College

A constituent college of Kenyatta University, located in Kilifi, Kenya. It was commissioned through signing of a Kenya Gazette Notice as a constituent college to be upgraded to a full university in three years.

Management

The current chancellor is Dr. Harris Mule and the vice chancellor is Prof. Olive Mugenda, who is the first female Vice-Chancellor of a public university in Kenya.Under the vice chancellor, there are three deputy vice chancellors and three registrars.

Deputy Vice Chancellors

*Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic – Prof. Oluoch Obura (Acting)
*Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration – Prof. G. Muluvi (Acting)
*Deputy Vice Chancellor Finance, Planning and Development – Prof. D. Mugendi (Acting)

Registrars

*Registrar Academic - Dr. Gabriel Katana
*Registrar Administration- Prof. Godfrey Mse
*Registrar Finance, Planning and Development- Dr. Nelson Karagu

External links

* [http://www.ku.ac.ke/ Kenyatta University website]
* [http://www.edukenya.com More information about Colleges and Universities in Kenya]