Nine top Kenyan varsities revealed in latest ranking

The University of Nairobi. It ranks sixth in Africa. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

Nine local universities are among 100 top higher learning institutions in the region, according to uniRanks, the world’s university ranking body. 

The University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Strathmore University, and Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology are ranked the best in Kenya.

Mount Kenya University, United States International University-Africa (USIU), Egerton University, Moi University and Kenya Methodist University are also among the top-ranked Kenyan universities, in that order.

Performance indicators

The institutions were carefully calibrated in accordance with indicators that measure the institutions' performances across four areas.

The universities were vetted according to teaching and learning, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

The indicators also included institutions being chartered, licensed, or accredited by appropriate higher education-related organisations in their respective countries.

In addition, the universities passed the mark for offering at least a three-year bachelor’s degree or postgraduate master’s or doctoral degree or delivering courses predominantly in a traditional non-distance education format.

The University of Nairobi was placed in the sixth position in Africa, behind South Africa’s University of Cape Town.

University of the Witwatersrand, University of Pretoria, University of Stellenbosch and Egypt’s The American University of Cairo ranked top in Africa in that order.

Overall, the University of Nairobi ranks in position 924 worldwide, with South Africa’s University of Cape Town coming in position 236.

Harvard University still commanded the lead for six consecutive years.

For the other local universities ranked in Africa, Kenyatta University came in position 28 in the region while Strathmore University was ranked 42.

Top 100

Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology is ranked 49, Mount Kenya University is ranked 51 and USIU at position 65.

Egerton University is ranked 81 followed by Moi University at 82 while Kenya Methodist University was at position 97.

Seven South African universities dominated the top 10 in Africa.

Egypt has three institutions in the top 10 category.

Overall, South Africa has 19 universities among the top 100 ranked institutions.

Egypt has 15, Nigeria has 11 universities listed while Algeria and Morocco have 10 each.