Mount Kenya University Graduates Record Number as Focus Shifts to AI and Innovation

Mount Kenya University (MKU) on Friday held its 27th graduation ceremony, marking a milestone with a record 8,724 graduates. This included 8,638 from MKU and 86 from its Technical and Vocational affiliate, Equip Africa Institute. The figure represents a significant increase from 7,448 graduates in December 2024.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi said current enrolment stands at 60,223 for MKU and 1,762 for Equip Africa, the highest ever recorded in the May-August semester.

The graduating class included 10 PhDs, 691 master’s, 150 postgraduate diplomas, 5,447 bachelor’s degrees, 1,965 diplomas, and 461 certificates.

The ceremony, held at the university’s Pavilion Grounds in Thika, was themed “Catalysing Innovation: Universities as Drivers of Artificial Intelligence (AI).”

Chancellor Prof. John Struthers commended the graduates and praised the university's growth, citing increased global engagements, including MKU's designation as the UNAI SDG 9 Hub Chair on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure until 2027. He highlighted MKU’s participation at the Global Higher Education Symposium at the UN Headquarters in New York as a sign of rising global recognition.

He also acknowledged partnerships with international institutions such as Marwadi University (India), International Maritime College (Oman), Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy, and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Kenya). These have enhanced MKU’s academic and professional programmes.

To foster alumni engagement, the university introduced a Sh. 5 million MKU Alumni Award, set to be awarded at the December 2025 graduation to a graduate who has made an exceptional impact in society.

Council Chair Dr. Vincent Gaitho announced the approval of a Tuition Fee Remission Policy for staff, their dependents, and parents with more than two children enrolled concurrently. He also reported recent staff promotions, including three associate professors and 16 senior lecturers.

Dr. Gaitho highlighted the university’s commitment to digital transformation through the implementation of the University Integrated Resource Platform (UnIRP), aimed at improving service delivery, teaching, and learning. MKU is also partnering with Microsoft to integrate AI tools into its systems.

In support of emerging career opportunities, the university has established a Maritime Academy in Malindi and partnered with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) to offer German language training, enabling graduates to pursue opportunities abroad.

Guest speaker Dr. Tonny Omwanza, CEO of the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA), emphasized the critical role of AI and innovation in higher education. He praised MKU’s leadership in AI, citing the ACCESS 2.0 project—a €4.5 million (Sh. 682 million) initiative co-led by MKU and Leipzig University. The project will integrate AI-driven entrepreneurship units into 10 Kenyan universities.

Dr. Omwanza also highlighted MKU’s involvement in the Africa Meets Bavaria project with the Technical University of Munich and various initiatives under KeNIA, including training on research commercialization and support for early-stage innovations.

He encouraged graduates to identify real-world problems and develop scalable, market-ready solutions.

“You will succeed best if you sharpen your abilities to define meaningful problems and create sustainable solutions,” he said.

MKU Alumni Association Chairman Gikera Kahara, a PhD candidate in Strategic Management, welcomed the new graduates to the 130,000-strong alumni network. He noted the association’s efforts to strengthen engagement through webinars, reunions, and mentorship programmes.

Kahara urged graduates to embrace technology and AI to enhance their competitiveness. “You are uniquely positioned to carry forward the legacy of universities as drivers of innovation,” he said.

The event was attended by several dignitaries, including MKU co-founder Dr. Jane G. Nyutu; Dr. Martin Kimemia, Vice-Chancellor of MKU Rwanda; Chancellor Designate Prof. Egara Kabaji; Archbishop Anthony Muheria; members of the university board, council, and senate; and representatives from other universities.