The University of Nairobi (UoN) has retained its position as Kenya’s leading university in the 2026 UniRank listing.

UoN has remained at the top with more than 50,000 students and multiple campuses across Nairobi and Kisumu, including Kikuyu, Parklands, Chiromo, Upper Kabete and Lower Kabete.

UoN Beats KU, JKUAT in Kenya University Rankings

Its position was boosted by the fact that it allows students from abroad to enroll and offers a range of academic and non-academic facilities and services, including a library, housing, sports facilities, financial aid and/or scholarships, and study abroad and exchange programs.

Strathmore University ranks second, ahead of Kenyatta University and the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), and leads all private universities in the ranking.

The institution is recognized for its focus on business, technology and professional programmes, with an enrolment of about 4,000–4,999 students and a selective admission process.

Kenyatta University is placed third. The public university has a student population exceeding 50,000 and operates campuses in Mombasa, Kitui, Nakuru, Embu, Ruiru, Nyeri, Kiambu, Kericho and Dadaab.

Similar to UoN, KU emerged among the top universities due to the range of facilities offered at the Ruiru-based institution, including libraries, housing, sports facilities, financial aid, and exchange programs.

Mount Kenya University ranks fourth, followed by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in fifth place. Moi University ranks sixth, while Egerton University ranks seventh.

Universities Listed in Top 30

The Technical University of Kenya (TUK) ranks eighth, United States International University Africa (USIU-Africa) is ninth, and Kenya Methodist University completes the top 10 list.

Beyond the top 10, The Catholic University of Eastern Africa ranked 11th, followed by KCA University (12th), Murang’a University of Technology (13th), Maseno University (14th) and the University of Embu (15th).

Daystar University was ranked 16th, ahead of Pwani University (17th), Zetech University (18th), Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (19th) and Tangaza University (20th).

Other institutions in the top 30 include Kabarak University (21st), Chuka University (22nd), Kisii University (23rd), Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (24th), Africa Nazarene University (25th), Kirinyaga University (26th), University of Eastern Africa, Baraton (27th), Kibabii University (28th), Technical University of Mombasa (29th) and Meru University of Science and Technology (30th).

Further down the list were Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (31st), South Eastern Kenya University (32nd), University of Eldoret (33rd), The Co-operative University of Kenya (34th) and Machakos University (35th).

According to UniRank, the 2026 Kenya University Ranking includes institutions that are officially recognized or accredited by the relevant higher education authorities in Kenya, offer bachelor’s and postgraduate degree programmes, and primarily provide traditional classroom-based learning. 

The organization says the rankings are based on independent web intelligence and online popularity metrics rather than information submitted by universities themselves.

Kenya University Rankings 2026 (UniRank)

Rank University Town
1 University of Nairobi Nairobi
2 Strathmore University Nairobi
3 Kenyatta University Nairobi
4 Mount Kenya University Thika
5 Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Nairobi
6 United States International University Africa Nairobi
7 Moi University Eldoret
8 Egerton University Njoro
9 Technical University of Kenya Nairobi
10 Kenya Methodist University Meru
11 The Catholic University of Eastern Africa Nairobi
12 KCA University Nairobi
13 Murang’a University of Technology Murang’a
14 Maseno University Maseno
15 University of Embu Embu
16 Daystar University Nairobi
17 Pwani University Kilifi
18 Zetech University Ruiru
19 Dedan Kimathi University of Technology Nyeri
20 Tangaza University Nairobi
21 Kabarak University Nakuru
22 Chuka University Chuka
23 Kisii University Kisii
24 Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology Kakamega
25 Africa Nazarene University Nairobi
26 Kirinyaga University Kerugoya
27 University of Eastern Africa, Baraton Eldoret
28 Kibabii University Bungoma
29 Technical University of Mombasa Mombasa
30 Meru University of Science and Technology Meru
31 Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology Bondo
32 South Eastern Kenya University Kitui
33 University of Eldoret Eldoret
34 The Co-operative University of Kenya Nairobi
35 Machakos University Machakos
36 Karatina University Karatina
37 St. Paul’s University Limuru
38 Maasai Mara University Narok
39 Amref International University Nairobi
40 Laikipia University Nyahururu
41 Great Lakes University of Kisumu Kisumu
42 Riara University Nairobi
43 Africa International University Nairobi
44 Multimedia University of Kenya Nairobi
45 Kiriri Women’s University of Science and Technology Nairobi
46 Tom Mboya University Homa Bay
47 Rongo University Rongo
48 University of Kabianga Kericho
49 Management University of Africa Nairobi
50 The Presbyterian University of East Africa Kikuyu
51 Garissa University Garissa
52 Adventist University of Africa Nairobi
53 Kaimosi Friends University Kaimosi
54 Tharaka University Marimanti
55 Taita Taveta University Voi
56 Pan Africa Christian University Nairobi
57 Umma University Kajiado
58 Scott Christian University Machakos
59 KAG East University Nairobi
60 Uzima University Kisumu
61 Lukenya University Kambu
62 Pioneer International University Nairobi
63 The East African University Nairobi
64 International Leadership University, Kenya Nairobi
65 Alupe University Busia
66 GRETSA University Thika
67 Islamic University of Kenya Kisaju
68 Kenya Highlands University Kericho
Unranked Aga Khan University, Kenya Nairobi
UoN Retains Top Spot as Strathmore Beats KU, JKUAT in Kenya University Rankings
Strathmore University School of business. Photo/ Strathmore University