Mount Kenya University’s Kigali Campus – MKU Rwanda – has rebranded to Mount Kigali University after receiving a charter from the Government of Rwanda. The private university, which has roots in Kenya and boasts more than 6,000 students, has joined the league of fully-fledged universities Rwanda, one of the fastest growing economies in East Africa.
The university charter comes over a decade since MKU launched its programmes in Kigali, but the journey to become an independent entity began in 2018. This milestone was announced on Friday by the government of Rwanda through the office of the Prime Minister after a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame.
Kenya has a more developed higher education system in East Africa and has over the past decade been exporting education to the region. It has, however, not been easy for Kenyan public universities in Rwanda. Kenyatta University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUA) closed down after falling out with the higher education regulator in Kigali.
MKU Regional Marketing and Communications Director Henry Musisi said attaining autonomy marks a new beginning for MKU and will ease training and graduation. Kigali campus students had to travel to Kenya for graduation, given the campus was operating under MKU main campus in Thika.
“We are very grateful to the government of Rwanda for giving us a conducive environment to operate from and with Mount Kigali University now in place, we will continue to deepen our training and research investments in the School of Business, health training and research as well as in the hospitality and tourism sectors, with the key focus being on producing graduates with employability skills that are relevant to the market,” Mr Musisi said.
Mount Kenya University, started by education investor Prof Simon Gicharu, has grown to become one of the prestigious institutions of higher learning in East Africa. The institution has expanded over the last decade and has several campuses in different parts of the region. Mount Kenya University Rwanda, now renamed Mount Kigali University, is famous for its courses that produce various qualified graduates who serve in various sectors of the economy.
Mount Kigali University started in 2010 with modest resources in the heart of the city of Kigali. So far, it has invested in modern buildings, libraries, laboratories, hostels, swimming pools and equipment. Mount Kenya University has greatly contributed to enhanced quality of teaching in Rwanda.
