Konza city: Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) University, located in Konza City, Machakos, will now recruit outstanding professors and admit top students following the award of a charter. Prof. Emmanuel Mutisya, Chair of the KAIST University Council, made these remarks during a celebration ceremony at the institution after President Dr. William Ruto awarded the charter.
According to Kenya News Agency, the charter grants the institution the authority to conduct its activities independently, with admissions scheduled to commence in the first quarter of the upcoming Financial Year. The initial cohort will include 110 Master’s students and 24 PhD candidates, focusing on specialized postgraduate STEM education.
Prof. Mutisya highlighted that the university aims to enroll a select group of outstanding students from Kenya and beyond, who will contribute to Kenya’s industrial development. The plan is to gradually increase enrollment in the coming years. Initially, KAIST will offer programs in ICT engineering, including artificial intelligence, robotics, and cybersecurity, alongside agricultural biotechnology with an emphasis on food science and crop production.
Furthermore, Prof. Mutisya revealed that all admitted students will receive full scholarships to focus entirely on their studies and research. The innovations developed by these students will be commercialized to foster industrial growth. KAIST is collaborating with elite partners worldwide to promote innovation and enhance academic relevance.
Prof. Mutisya noted, “We are working with partners from universities and industries globally to propel Kenya toward first-world status, ensuring our scholars possess skills competitive with those in South Korea, Singapore, and certain European countries.”
Seo Hwang, Vice President of Korea Eximbank, emphasized the institution’s partnerships with universities and industries across Kenya, South Korea, China, and Sweden, among others, to maintain global standards. Prof. Gateru, Vice Chancellor of Riara University, remarked that the charter award marks a new chapter for Kenya’s higher education, with KAIST envisioned as a future-focused university driving modernization and industrial growth, aligning with Vision 2030 and the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Established in 2021, KAIST is situated on 36 acres in Konza City. Its development was part of a partnership project between Kenya and South Korea, aimed at addressing a shortage of highly skilled engineers and scientists to propel Kenya into industrialization by 2030.
