University of Kabianga

What University of Kabianga does

University of Kabianga is a public university chartered by the Government of Kenya on 1st March 2013, located approximately 25 km south-west of Kericho Town in Kericho County. Originally established as a campus in 2007 and previously a constituent college of Moi University, the institution operates across three campuses — Main Campus (Kabianga), Town Campus (Kericho), and Kapkatet Campus (Health Sciences) — serving undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and certificate students through five schools: Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Business & Economics, Education Arts & Social Sciences, Health Sciences, and Science & Technology. The university is ISO 9001:2015 certified by the Kenya Bureau of Standards and positioned as a Center of Innovation and Excellence.

The university operates a portfolio of digital platforms including an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system managed by ABNO Softwares International, an e-learning portal, a library portal, a student/staff portal, a journal portal, a conference portal, an institutional repository, and the MumCare mobile health application developed with HealthIT. It has produced two registered patents (an eco-friendly keratin hydrolysis method and a pineapple waste-to-beverage conversion process), and runs a dedicated Technology Transfer Office and wholly-owned commercialization subsidiary (UKES). The university coordinates with KUCCPS for centralized student placement and engages in international research collaborations with institutions including the University of Nottingham, Michigan State University, the University of Greenwich, Cranfield University, Oxford University, and the University of Amsterdam.

The business model combines tuition and academic fees from individual students across programme levels, recurrent exchequer funding from the Kenyan government through the Ministry of Education, research grants from agencies including KeNIA, AREF, Carnegie, and the British High Commission, and emerging revenue from intellectual property commercialization under the Commercialization Master Plan 2022-2027. Strategic partnerships with the Lipton Tea Innovation and Technology Academy (LTITA) and E4IMPACT anchor initiatives in industry-aligned training, tea value chain development, and entrepreneurship. The institution employs 418 staff and produced 1,546 graduands at its 12th ceremony in November 2024, up 27% from 1,218 in October 2023.

Name

University of Kabianga

Legal name

University of Kabianga

Website

https://kabianga.ac.ke

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Public Kenyan university chartered in 2013, serving undergraduate and postgraduate students across five schools through three campuses in Kericho County, generating revenue from tuition, government exchequer funding, and research grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Professional Schools (MBA/MPA/MPH/Etc.) (EDAHALAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Online Healthcare & Nursing Universities (Allied Health, RN-to-BSN, etc.) (EDAHALAF)

Keywords

• Higher education
• University degree programmes
• Academic research services
• Vocational diploma programmes
• Postgraduate education

Headquarters

HQ city

Kabianga

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: Revenue generated from student tuition fees for various academic programmes including undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and certificate programmes. Fee structures are published annually with different rates for different programme levels.
2. Government Funding: Public university receiving government support through the Ministry of Education and various state departments. Receives funding for infrastructure projects such as the water supply system.
3. Research Grants and Commercialization: Funding from agencies including Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA), Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program, Africa Research Excellence Fund, and British High Commission. Revenue also from commercializing research innovations.
4. Commercialization Master Plan: Strategic initiative to generate wealth through commercialization of research products and intellectual property, targeting self-sustainability against diminishing exchequer grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

University of Kabianga is a Kenyan public university that delivers higher education programmes (doctorate, masters, undergraduate, diploma, and certificate) across five schools, alongside a research and extension portfolio that includes patented innovations, research commercialization, and continuing professional short courses such as the Lipton Tea Innovation and Technology Academy. It also operates the MumCare maternal health mobile application developed with HealthIT.

Product overview

University of Kabianga is a public university in Kenya offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic programmes across five schools: Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Business & Economics, Education Arts & Social Sciences, Health Sciences, and Science & Technology. The university provides digital platforms including an E-Learning Portal, Library Portal, Student/Staff Portal, Journal Portal, Conference Portal, and Institutional Repository. The institution also operates specialized facilities including the Lipton Tea Innovation and Technology Academy (LTITA), offering short courses in tea innovation, entrepreneurship, and integrated pest management. Additional digital offerings include the MumCare health application for maternal health tracking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Academic Programmes Bachelor's degree programmes spanning Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Business & Economics, Education Arts & Social Sciences, Health Sciences, and Science & Technology, delivered across the Kabianga, Town, and Kapkatet campuses. Targeted at Kenyan secondary school leavers admitted through KUCCPS or direct application.
• Postgraduate Academic Programmes Masters and Doctorate programmes across the university's five schools, including PhD, masters by coursework, and masters by research. Targeted at graduates and working professionals pursuing advanced specialisation.
• Diploma Programmes Diploma programmes for vocational and professional training, delivered across the university's schools and campuses. Targeted at secondary school leavers and adult learners seeking practical qualifications.
• Certificate Programmes Short-cycle certificate programmes providing vocational and continuing professional training. Targeted at individuals seeking entry-level or upskilling qualifications.
• Lipton Tea Innovation and Technology Academy (LTITA) A collaborative academy between University of Kabianga and Lipton Teas and Infusions, offering short courses in Integrated Tea and Entrepreneurship Management and Integrated Pest Management (IPM), with linkages to Cranfield University, Oxford University, University of Amsterdam, and the UK Tea and Infusions Association.
• MumCare App A mobile health application developed in collaboration with HealthIT that serves as a reminder for expectant women to schedule Antenatal Care (ANC) appointments. Targeted at expectant mothers and maternal health stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,546 graduands in 2024 12th graduation ceremony including 14 PhD, 24 Masters, 1,465 Undergraduate and 43 Diploma students
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lipton Tea Innovation and Technology Academy (LTITA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2025Strategic collaboration between University of Kabianga and Lipton Teas and Infusions through the Ministry of Education. The Academy was launched by the President of Kenya in February 2024 and aims to transform Kenya's tea industry through modern training, research, and innovations. Partnership facilitates international academic and industry partnerships with institutions including Cranfield University, Oxford University, University of Amsterdam, and UK Tea and Infusions Association.
• Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2025Benchmarking visit focused on tea value chain collaboration. KTDA delegation visited to explore working together to boost the tea sector in terms of value chain development. Team included representatives from KTDA Holdings, operations, ICT, and partner organizations.
• E4IMPACTcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2025MOU signed to strengthen collaboration in entrepreneurship, research, training, and capacity building. Key areas include innovation and incubation, training and research, establishing a joint Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub, curriculum development, joint events, value chain development, startup support, and exchange programmes. Partnership aims to empower impact entrepreneurs and drive economic growth.
• Kenyannurse Consultants LimitedminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2023MOU for nursing consultancy collaboration including training and recruitment of nurses for local and international opportunities, supplying nursing schools with prospective students, running a nursing jobs center, and providing training in internationally recognized nursing exams (IELTS, OET, PTE, TOEFL, NMC CBT, NCLEX-RN).
• Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch commercialization partnership through Research to Commercialization (R2C) accelerator programme. UoK developed Commercialization Master Plan 2022-2027 under this partnership. Also collaborated on Start-Up School Kenya initiative and Entrepreneurship Leadership Training Programme.
• Michigan State University (MSU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program partnership for co-developing kiSwahili as a Foreign Language courses, strengthening Kiswahili curriculum in undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, and faculty/student exchanges.
• University of NottinghamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership through Africa Research Excellence Fund for studying dietary and environmental influence on micro-nutrient deficiencies in East Africa. Total grant of 31,920 GBP.
• Commission for University Education (CUE)coreOthersRegulatory body for university education in Kenya. Conducted institutional site inspection in May 2026 to assess academic resources, infrastructure, and readiness for 12 newly proposed programmes including Health and Medical programmes.
• University of Greenwich, UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch hosting partnership through Transformative Change for Biodiversity and Equity Project. Hosting PhD candidate Mr. Niall Readfern for one year research exchange.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Kenyatta University: One of Kenya's largest and oldest public universities with a much wider programme portfolio and stronger research profile. Competes with UoK for the top end of the KUCCPS-placed student cohort and for postgraduate enrolments.
• University of Nairobi: Kenya's flagship public research university and the dominant institution in the country. Competes with UoK for top students, faculty, and research grants but operates at a far larger scale and brand strength.
• Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT): Major Kenyan public university with strong STEM and agriculture programmes. Competes directly with UoK's School of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and School of Science and Technology.

Regional players

• Makerere University: Uganda's flagship public university, comparable in structure and mission to UoK. Serves as a regional benchmark for East African public universities and competes indirectly for postgraduate students and research grants.

Direct peers

• Moi University: University of Kabianga was a Constituent College of Moi University from 2009 to 2013 before being chartered as an independent public university. Both are public Kenyan universities offering similar faculties and compete for the same KUCCPS-placed undergraduate cohort.
• Laikipia University: Public Kenyan university chartered in 2013 (the same year as UoK) with a similar mid-sized programme portfolio. Competes directly for KUCCPS-placed students from central and southern Rift Valley counties.
• Maseno University: Public Kenyan university with a similar five-school structure and broad undergraduate/postgraduate portfolio. Competes for KUCCPS placements and shares the same Kenyan higher education regulatory environment (CUE).
• Mount Kenya University: Large private chartered university in Kenya offering a similar range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Represents the private-sector competitor that UoK must differentiate against on tuition, facilities, and graduate outcomes.
• Egerton University: Another chartered public Kenyan university in the Rift Valley region, with overlapping faculties in agriculture, science, education, and health sciences. Directly competes with UoK for students from Kericho, Nakuru, and surrounding counties.
• Karatina University: Public Kenyan university chartered in 2012, similar in age and trajectory to UoK. Offers comparable agriculture, business, education, and science programmes and competes for the same regional student pool.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/universityofkabianga
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-of-kabianga

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about University of Kabianga