President William Ruto with other government officials when he presided over the award of university charters to KEMRI and KAIST on May 14, 2026/pcs

President William Ruto Thursday, May 14, presided over the award of university charters to the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and the Kenya Medical Research Institute during a ceremony held at State House, Nairobi.

The granting of the charters formally transitions the two institutions into postgraduate degree-awarding universities under Section 24(1)(a) of the Universities Act.

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The move marks a major milestone in Kenya’s higher education and research sector, with the government saying the elevation of the institutions will strengthen the country’s scientific, technological and medical research capacity.

The award of the charters also signals a new phase for the two institutions as centres of advanced research and innovation.

KAIST will operate as a specialised postgraduate university focused on training highly skilled scientists, engineers and researchers in areas including mechanical engineering, electrical and electronics engineering, ICT, chemical engineering, civil engineering and agricultural biotechnology, among other disciplines.

KEMRI, on the other hand, will focus on training scientists and researchers in biochemical sciences, biodefence, biosurveillance, epidemic intelligence and national health security.

A university charter is the highest form of accreditation a university can receive in Kenya and grants institutions full recognition to operate independently as degree-awarding universities.

The two institutions earned the distinction following an assessment and accreditation process conducted by the Commission for University Education, the national regulator of university education in the country.

President Ruto congratulated the two institutions for achieving the milestone, saying the development reflects Kenya’s growing investment in research, innovation and advanced skills training.

Also present during the ceremony were Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala and other senior government officials.