Education / Teaching
"Egerton University: Kenya's oldest higher learning institution."
Egerton University stands as Kenya’s oldest higher education institution, established in 1939 as a Farm School by Lord Maurice Egerton of Tattoo, a British settler who arrived in Kenya during the 1920s. The school transitioned to an Agricultural College in 1950, offering diploma-level programs, and was formally recognized through the Egerton Agricultural College Ordinance in 1955. A significant expansion, funded by the Government of Kenya and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), took place in 1979. By 1986, the institution had been designated as a constituent college of the University of Nairobi, and in 1987, it attained full university status through an Act of Parliament.
The university operates across three campuses and one campus college. The main Njord Campus serves as the primary academic hub, hosting faculties in Agriculture, Arts and Social Sciences, Education and Community Studies, Engineering and Technology, Environment and Resource Development, Science, and Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. It also accommodates the Board of Undergraduate Studies and Field Attachment, along with the Board of Postgraduate Studies. The Nairobi City Campus offers programs from the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Commerce, and Education and Community Studies, in addition to housing the African Centre for Distance Education (ACRE). Kenyatta Campus, situated five kilometers from Njord, is designated to accommodate Open and Distance Learning (OIL) programs, which are currently based at Njord. Nakuru Town Campus College, the university’s only campus college, offers programs in Commerce and Health Sciences. With nine faculties and 51 academic departments, Egerton University delivers a diverse array of diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate programs to both government-sponsored and self-sponsored students. The institution also provides foundational courses in computer literacy, repairs and maintenance, accounting, and bridging programs.
Egerton University has played a pivotal role in expanding access to higher education in Kenya. Three of its former constituent colleges—Cheka, Visit, and Lavinia Universities—were chartered as independent institutions in January and February 2013. Among the university’s notable achievements are the establishment of the Institute of Women, Gender and Development Studies; key directorates such as Quality Assurance, Planning and Development, Student Welfare Services, Institutional Advancement, International Linkages and Programs, and Industry Liaison; as well as specialized centers including the African Virtual University (AVU) Centre and The Essential Electronic Agricultural Library (TEAL). The university also publishes internationally recognized peer-reviewed journals, including the *Egerton Journal of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education* and the *Egerton Journal of Science and Technology*. Additionally, Egerton University has introduced innovative academic programs and annually graduates over 3,000 students.
The university is actively engaged in impactful research initiatives, including the Vegetable Oil
