BY RITA MUTHONI
The University of Embu is celebrating a decade of remarkable growth, with its student population rising from 123 in 2016 to more than 19,300, as the institution prepares to admit the first cohort of learners under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system in 2029.
The celebrations mark 10 years since the university received its charter on October 7, 2016, with university leadership highlighting major investments in infrastructure, research and academic excellence.
University Chancellor Prof. Paul Musili Wambua said the institution had recorded significant progress over the past decade, citing the expansion of its student population and the development of modern facilities to support teaching, learning and administration.
“We have a lot to celebrate about,” Prof. Wambua said, noting that enrolment had grown from 123 students at the time of chartering to approximately 19,300.
Among the institution’s key achievements are a modern tuition block, government-funded student hostels and a state-of-the-art administration complex.
The university has also strengthened its research capacity, earned international academic recognition and maintained strong customer service performance, having ranked number one for three consecutive years.
Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor Prof. Daniel Mugendi has assured Kenyans that universities are preparing to accommodate the pioneer cohort of learners transitioning from secondary schools under the CBE curriculum in 2029.
Prof. Mugendi said institutions of higher learning were reviewing and aligning their academic programmes to meet the new education system’s requirements, with universities expected to begin implementing the changes in first-year coursework.
He revealed that, under this year’s performance contracting, public and private universities had committed to aligning at least 30 per cent of their academic curricula with the CBE framework before the end of the year.
The Vice Chancellor added that universities were retraining lecturers and academic heads in collaboration with external partners, including the Estonian Development Center (EstDev), to strengthen their capacity to deliver competency-based learning.
“I want to assure everyone, including all Kenyans, that come 2029, the universities will be very ready to receive the first cohort of CBE students,” Prof. Mugendi said.
The milestone celebrations underscore the University of Embu’s transformation over the past decade, as it seeks to expand access to higher education while adapting its academic programmes to Kenya’s evolving education system.
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