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.
![The signing ceremony took place in Kisumu, with Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o representing the county government and UN-Habitat Executive Director in Kenya, Anaclaudia Rossbach, signing on behalf of the UN agency. Under the agreement, both parties commit to jointly implementing the housing upgrade project, which Governor Nyong’o said will primarily target vulnerable groups. “The PINUA programme [is] designed to benefit the most vulnerable members of the community,” Nyong’o said, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to fostering sustainable neighborhoods equipped with essential services. Beginning November 1, 2025, the county government, working with UN-Habitat, will launch pilot projects in Kibuye Estate and Muhoroni Sub-County, based on designs and models developed through extensive public participation. The programme will focus on upgrading informal settlements by providing essential social infrastructure such as schools, sanitation facilities, affordable rental housing, early childhood development centres, and public open spaces. It also supports incremental housing models, allowing families to progressively build and eventually own decent homes. Rossbach emphasized UN-Habitat’s global commitment to driving transformative change in urban areas: “This partnership is crucial in advancing our new strategy, which focuses on improving housing access and digitally transforming informal settlements for everyone.” According to UN-Habitat housing architect Fred Omenya, the pilot phase will begin in January 2026 with the construction of two blocks of 24 housing units in Kibuye Estate.](https://businessinsights.africa/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/About-us-still-25957706200_7ca2db7e5e_k-218x150.jpg "Kisumu, UN-Habitat sign Ksh2.7bn deal for social housing upgrade")
