The Technical University of Kenya will soon be re-chartered to ensure clarity of its mandate as a special technical university. This was announced by President William Ruto when he visited the university on 8^th December 2022.

While at the University, the President commissioned construction works for two blocks and inaugurated a recently-completed tuition block.

“I’m aware that there is a misalignment between the university’s Charter and the constitutive legislative instruments that affect the clarity of its mandate. After consultations with the Council Chairman and the Vice-Chancellor, we will re-work and re-charter this University so that we can establish it as a special technical university. TU-K should not just be technical in its name, it should be a technical university by charter,” the President said.

The President’s announcement came about after the University expressed concern that the Legal Order Number 159 of 2007 that created the institution had not been properly interpreted, therefore affecting the discharge of its mandate since it was to function both as polytechnic and university. The lack of clarity had led to less capitation from Exchequer that treats TU-K as any other traditional university yet it continues to admit and train diploma students placed by KUCCPS to pursue various technical disciplines.

The President commended TU-K for maintaining its leading role in TVET programmes in the country adding that the university’s visionary leadership will result in transformation of Kenya’s economy in all sectors.

“It’s important that the institution maintains its core identity as a polytechnic university. This means that its mandate to train at the diploma level must be sustained. I’m aware that funding for this component has not been up to the appropriate levels. I have asked the CS for Education to make appropriate arrangements to ensure this University lives up to its founding mandate by providing funding to it to continue offering diploma programmes,” he said.

The President noted that the commitment to TVET programmes had made the institution attractive to a large number of Kenyans pursuing training in vital fields. 

 He urged the University to stick to its mandate and support the country’s aspirations of becoming industrialised.

“I commend you for striving in the face of daunting challenges, to retain this iconic identity. Your struggle has admirable results. You have remained a TVET institution supported by robust science and technology disciplines complemented by social sciences and humanities.”

He commended TU-K for giving them opportunities to pursue degrees after completion of diploma programmes.

“The Young people’s positive response to the institution’s vision is a clear testimony that you are doing the right thing and doing it well. Our presence at this event signals the Government’s readiness to partner with tertiary and TVET institutions to forge a clear path that will ensure Kenya increases the pool of highly skilled technical personnel and assume global leadership in all sectors,” he said.

He assured the gathering about the Government’s commitment in funding a planned TVET College, saying it is important to sustain TU-K’s core mandate. He said the facility will train instructors and teachers who will serve other TVET institutions across the country.

President Ruto noted that TU-K’s model has been successfully replicated in some African countries, which have proceeded to establish more technical universities than Kenya. He noted that Kenya needs more technical personnel to meet its enormous challenges.

“Considering the shortage of critical skills in vocational disciplines such as plumbing, woodwork among others, the Government will support the youth to realise self-employment.” he added.

The Head of State expressed hope that TU-K will play a critical role in the development of the Railway City whose commissioning of initial works he presided over on Wednesday 7^th December 2022.

Present during the event were Cabinet Secretary for Education, Hon. Ezekiel Machogu, Nairobi Governor, Hon. Johnson Sakaja, Nairobi Regional Commissioner, Mr Kang’ethe Thuku, Commission for University Education CEO, Prof. Mike Kuria, TVETA CEO, Dr. Kipkurui Langat, HELB CEO, Mr Charles Ringera, KUCCPS CEO, Dr. Agnes Wahome among other senior officers from State agencies.

The Technical University of Kenya will soon be re-chartered to ensure clarity of its mandate as a special technical university. This was announced by President William Ruto when he visited the university on 8^th December 2022.

While at the University, the President commissioned construction works for two blocks and inaugurated a recently-completed tuition block. “I’m aware that there is a misalignment between the university’s Charter and the constitutive legislative instruments that affect the clarity of its mandate. After consultations with the Council Chairman and the Vice-Chancellor, we will re-work and re-charter this University so that we can establish it as a special technical university. TU-K should not just be technical in its name, it should be a technical university by charter,” the President said.

The President’s announcement came about after the University expressed concern that the Legal Order Number 159 of 2007 that created the institution had not been properly interpreted, therefore affecting the discharge of its mandate since it was to function both as polytechnic and university. The lack of clarity had led to less capitation from Exchequer that treats TU-K as any other traditional university yet it continues to admit and train diploma students placed by KUCCPS to pursue various technical disciplines.

The President commended TU-K for maintaining its leading role in TVET programmes in the country adding that the university’s visionary leadership will result in transformation of Kenya’s economy in all sectors.

“It’s important that the institution maintains its core identity as a polytechnic university. This means that its mandate to train at the diploma level must be sustained. I’m aware that funding for this component has not been up to the appropriate levels. I have asked the CS for Education to make appropriate arrangements to ensure this University lives up to its founding mandate by providing funding to it to continue offering diploma programmes,” he said.

The President noted that the commitment to TVET programmes had made the institution attractive to a large number of Kenyans pursuing training in vital fields. 

 He urged the University to stick to its mandate and support the country’s aspirations of becoming industrialised.

“I commend you for striving in the face of daunting challenges, to retain this iconic identity. Your struggle has admirable results. You have remained a TVET institution supported by robust science and technology disciplines complemented by social sciences and humanities.”

He commended TU-K for giving them opportunities to pursue degrees after completion of diploma programmes.

“The Young people’s positive response to the institution’s vision is a clear testimony that you are doing the right thing and doing it well. Our presence at this event signals the Government’s readiness to partner with tertiary and TVET institutions to forge a clear path that will ensure Kenya increases the pool of highly skilled technical personnel and assume global leadership in all sectors,” he said.

He assured the gathering about the Government’s commitment in funding a planned TVET College, saying it is important to sustain TU-K’s core mandate. He said the facility will train instructors and teachers who will serve other TVET institutions across the country.

President Ruto noted that TU-K’s model has been successfully replicated in some African countries, which have proceeded to establish more technical universities than Kenya. He noted that Kenya needs more technical personnel to meet its enormous challenges.

“Considering the shortage of critical skills in vocational disciplines such as plumbing, woodwork among others, the Government will support the youth to realise self-employment.” he added.

The Head of State expressed hope that TU-K will play a critical role in the development of the Railway City whose commissioning of initial works he presided over on Wednesday 7^th December 2022.

Present during the event were Cabinet Secretary for Education, Hon. Ezekiel Machogu, Nairobi Governor, Hon. Johnson Sakaja, Nairobi Regional Commissioner, Mr Kang’ethe Thuku, Commission for University Education CEO, Prof. Mike Kuria, TVETA CEO, Dr. Kipkurui Langat, HELB CEO, Mr Charles Ringera, KUCCPS CEO, Dr. Agnes Wahome among other senior officers from State agencies.