Overview & History

KCA University began in 1989 as the Kenya College of Accountancy (KCA), founded by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK). It was created to address the shortage of qualified accountants in the country. Over time, it expanded its academic offerings beyond accountancy to business, technology, education, social sciences, and more. In 2007, it was granted a Letter of Interim Authority by the Commission for Higher Education, allowing it to operate as a university. On 1 March 2013, it received its Charter, making it a fully recognized university under Kenyan law.

Accreditation & Governance

KCAU is fully accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) in Kenya. It also has an Institutional Scientific & Ethics Review Committee (ISERC), accredited by the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI), to review and approve research proposals in the social sciences, ensuring ethical oversight in research.

Campus & Location

The main campus is located in Ruaraka, along Thika Road in Nairobi. The university also operates satellite campuses, including Nairobi Town Campus (CBD), Kitengela Campus in Kajiado County, Kisumu Campus, and Western Campus in Kakamega.

Academic Structure & Programmes

KCA University is organized into several schools and institutes, offering programmes from certificate to PhD level.

Schools include:

School of Business

School of Technology

School of Education, Arts & Social Sciences

Professional & Technical Training Institute (PTTI)

Board of Postgraduate Studies

Programmes Offered:

Doctoral programmes in areas such as business management, finance, and information systems.

Master’s programmes with specializations in business, technology, and social sciences.

Undergraduate degrees in accounting, commerce, IT, software development, data science, procurement, logistics, and more.

Diplomas in business, ICT, film technology, education, counselling psychology, and data analytics.

Certificate programmes in business management, ICT, culinary arts, procurement logistics, among others.

KNEC artisan and craft certificates in technical and vocational fields.

Facilities & Student Life

The university has a modern library (the Martin Oduor-Otieno Library) with capacity for about 1,500 students, offering books, journals, and access to electronic databases. The campus supports wireless internet for research and learning. Flexible study modes are available, including day, evening, weekend, and distance learning. Students also have access to sports facilities, a gym, and recreational spaces.

Research & Innovation

Research, innovation, and incubation are key pillars at KCAU. Focus areas include:

Education and learning

Business, governance, and entrepreneurship

Innovation and technology

Natural resources and climate action

Green and creative economy

The ISERC ensures that all research projects adhere to ethical standards.

Strengths & Achievements

Transitioned from a professional accountancy college to a fully chartered university in 2013.

Recognized for producing graduates who are highly employable.

Began admitting publicly sponsored students in 2016, strengthening its role in Kenya’s higher education sector.

Known for strong programmes in accountancy, business, and ICT.