President Ruto Grants Kamagambo University Interim Authority to Operate

KISUMU, KENYA — President William Ruto has awarded Kamagambo University a Letter of Interim Authority, formally admitting the institution into Kenya’s higher education system.

The President said the new university would expand access to higher education for young people in Migori County and across the country while developing teachers, entrepreneurs and professionals needed to support Kenya’s economic transformation.

Speaking during a function at State Lodge Kisumu on Tuesday, President Ruto urged the university’s management and trustees to maintain high standards of academic integrity, governance and quality as the institution works towards obtaining a full university charter.

“We urge the university management and trustees to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity, sound governance, prudent stewardship and quality as the institution works towards attaining a full Charter,” President Ruto said.

Government Plans Higher Education Financing Reforms

President Ruto also highlighted ongoing government efforts to increase access to higher education through reforms to student placement and financing.

He said the proposed Tertiary Education, Placement and Funding Bill, 2026, seeks to reform the way students are placed and financed in universities, technical colleges and the Kenya Medical Training College.

According to the President, once enacted, the legislation will help ensure that every qualified student can pursue higher education regardless of their financial or social background.

Ruto: Universities Must Drive Innovation

President Ruto said universities should play a central role in transforming knowledge into economic and social progress, arguing that countries that have achieved significant development have invested deliberately in research, innovation and education.

“That is what a university is for; not merely the certificates it awards, but the capacity it builds,” he said.

He said universities have a broader responsibility beyond awarding academic qualifications, including developing talent, strengthening institutions, conducting research and generating ideas that can lead to new industries.

“A university is where a nation prepares the minds that will build the future it envisions,” the President said.

He added that Kenya needs universities capable of preparing young people not only to compete for employment but also to establish businesses and transform entire sectors.

Call for Stronger University-Industry Partnerships

The President called for closer collaboration between universities, industry and government to ensure that higher education remains relevant to the country's economic needs.

He said employers should participate in shaping academic curricula, while universities should give students opportunities to gain practical experience by exposing them to real workplaces and real-world challenges.

Government, he added, should create an environment where research can be converted into technology, technology into businesses, and businesses into employment opportunities.

“Kenya must become a nation that produces knowledge, applies it and exports it,” he said, calling for a “new compact” among universities, industry and Government.

Kamagambo Becomes Kenya's 90th University

Education Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba said the establishment of Kamagambo University was part of the government's broader effort to strengthen Kenya's higher education system.

Ogamba said the government was not simply seeking to increase the number of universities but to build a competitive system capable of producing highly skilled professionals who can contribute to national development.

“This milestone elevates an institution with a long history of faith, service and community transformation into Kenya’s 90th university,” he said.

Kamagambo University is the third private university established by the Adventist Church, joining the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton, in Nandi County and the Adventist University of Africa in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado County.

President Ruto said Kamagambo's history of training teachers provides a strong foundation for its expansion into programmes aimed at developing professionals, entrepreneurs and leaders.

University Granted Authority With Conditions

The President explained that the Letter of Interim Authority allows Kamagambo University to establish its governing structures, develop academic resources and, subject to approval by the Commission for University Education (CUE), admit students into its programmes.

He cautioned, however, that the interim status should be viewed as the beginning of the institution's journey towards a full charter.

“The word 'interim' matters. Kamagambo has crossed the threshold, but it has not reached its destination,” Ruto said.

He urged the university to demonstrate academic integrity, sound governance, responsible management of resources and consistent quality as it works towards full accreditation.

The President also called on the institution to remain connected to the community it serves, urging it to align its teaching and research with the development needs and opportunities of Migori County and the wider Lake Region.

CUE to Monitor University's Development

Prof James Onyango Owino, Chairperson of the Commission for University Education, said the commission's responsibility would extend beyond licensing Kamagambo University.

He said CUE would continue to monitor, guide, advise and support the institution as it develops, with the aim of protecting the interests of students, parents, staff, the local community and the country.

The development marks a significant milestone for Kamagambo, as the institution begins the process of establishing itself as a fully-fledged provider of higher education while working towards attaining a full university charter.