President Ruto Grants Kamagambo University Letter of Interim Authority

What the President granted, and when

The President presented the letter on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, at the Kisumu State Lodge during his development tour of the Nyanza region. The new university will operate under the leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, with the Letter of Interim Authority allowing the institution to begin operating as a university as it progresses under its new status.

Which degree programmes Kamagambo can now admit to

The move marks a significant milestone for Kamagambo, an institution long known for its role in teacher training and higher education across the wider Nyanza region and beyond. With the approval of the Commission for University Education (CUE), the university can now commence operations and admit students to three inaugural degree programmes: the Bachelor of Education in Arts, the Bachelor of Arts in Theology with Entrepreneurship, and the Bachelor of Business Administration with Entrepreneurship. These programmes build directly on Kamagambo's established strengths in education, ministry, and business studies, and are designed to equip graduates with both professional competence and a grounding in ethical, service-oriented leadership.

What President Ruto asked of the university

Speaking during the presentation, President Ruto challenged the institution to maintain high academic standards, strengthen its research capacity, and ensure its work produces practical, society-benefiting solutions. He underscored that the new status carries a responsibility to serve the public good — through quality teaching, community engagement, and scholarship that addresses real challenges facing Kenyan society. The recognition forms part of a broader expansion of higher education across Nyanza; during the same development tour, the President also conferred a full university charter on Uzima University in Kisumu, formally recognising it as a fully established university.

What it means for higher education in Nyanza

The elevation of the two institutions is expected to widen access to university education and further strengthen Nyanza's higher education sector at a time when demand for quality degree places continues to rise. For Kamagambo, the milestone affirms more than a century of wholistic Christian education — nurturing learners mentally, spiritually, physically, and socially — and opens a new chapter as a full university serving students from across Kenya and the wider East African region. University leadership expressed gratitude to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Commission for University Education, and the wider community whose support made the transition possible.

How to apply for the January 2027 intake

Kamagambo University now invites prospective students, alumni, parents, and partners to join this historic chapter. Applications for the January 2027 intake across the three founding degree programmes are open, with the university committed to a seamless transition for current college students and a clear pathway for new entrants. As Kamagambo steps into its future as an autonomous private university, it carries forward a founding vision: to develop leaders of character who will serve church, community, and nation.

Kamagambo University invites prospective students, alumni, and partners to join this historic chapter. Applications for the January 2027 intake across the three inaugural degree programmes are now open.