Nairobi, November 5, 2026
President William Ruto on Thursday awarded a charter to the International Leadership University (ILU) at State House, Nairobi, formally recognising the institution as a fully chartered university. Ynews
The university, which integrates academic excellence, leadership development and Christian values, traces its origins to 1980 as the Nairobi International School of Theology. The charter marks a significant milestone in its more than four-decade journey. Kahawatungu
Speaking at the ceremony, President Ruto described the award as another step in expanding access to quality higher education for Kenya’s growing population of young people. He urged universities to go beyond teaching and training to become centres of research, innovation and knowledge creation that address societal challenges. Kahawatungu
“A degree should certify more than what a graduate knows. It should demonstrate what that graduate can achieve,” Ruto said. He challenged institutions to equip learners with practical skills, critical thinking, digital competence—including responsible use of artificial intelligence—and the confidence to create opportunities rather than merely seek jobs. Ynews
The President outlined priorities for universities, including teaching through real-world problems, stronger industry partnerships, expanded practical attachments, and a student-centred funding model to improve equitable access. He also highlighted broader government efforts, including increased education funding and an expanded national internship program. Ynews
In a personal commitment, Ruto pledged to sponsor five students at ILU every year for the next 10 years. He said he would consult the university’s Vice Chancellor on relevant courses aligned with the institution’s core values, citing his longstanding association with the university’s sponsors. He further offered to mobilise support for the university’s endowment fund. Nairobileo
ILU Chancellor Prof Kivutha Kibwana welcomed the charter as a major milestone that recognises the governance culture the institution has built since the 1980s. “I am overjoyed that this milestone, the award of the charter, comes early in my tenure. I receive it as fruit of a governance culture that our university has matured since 1980,” Kibwana said. Nairobileo
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba and other Ministry of Education officials attended the ceremony alongside university leadership. The charter was granted under the Universities Act, following the established legal process for recognising universities in Kenya. The-star
The award comes months after President Ruto granted charters to other institutions, including the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and the Kenya Medical Research Institute, underscoring ongoing expansion of the country’s higher education sector.