President William Ruto has asked Kenyan universities to partner with the private sector to turn academic innovations into business ventures. At State House, Nairobi during the Riara University charter awarding ceremony on March 19, 2025, Ruto said institutions of higher learning should adopt an entrepreneurial mindset to be competitive globally.
“Universities worldwide are evolving into innovation hubs—integrating research, enterprise and entrepreneurship into their DNA. Kenya is on this path through the Kenya Network of Entrepreneurial Universities which now has 14 members including Riara University” President Ruto said.
Riara University Granted Charter
Founded in 2012 by Daniel and Prof. Eddah Gachukia, Riara University has been granted its charter in recognition of its commitment to academic excellence and innovation. In recognition of their service to education, President Ruto awarded the Gachukias the Order of the Elder of the Burning Spear (EBS), one of Kenya’s highest civilian honours.
Guests in attendance included:
- Dr. Wilfred Kiboro, Chancellor of Riara University
- Migos Ogamba, Education Cabinet Secretary
- Chacha Nyaigoti Chacha, Chairman of the Commission for University Education
Government’s Commitment to Education Reforms
President Ruto re iterated his administration’s commitment to increase access to higher education, saying the sector has been allocated KSh 650 billion this financial year. He also noted that the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has disbursed KSh 36.6 billion to 418,729 university students and 233,540 TVET students.
To stabilise universities financially Ruto said the new student-centered University Funding Model has rescued struggling institutions like Moi University and the Technical University of Kenya from sinking into insolvency.
Infrastructure and Teacher Recruitment
The government is implementing major education reforms including:
- Construction of 17,000 new classrooms to support Junior-to-Senior School transition in 2026.
- Recruitment of 76,000 teachers on permanent terms to address the shortage.
Konza Technopolis for Innovation
Ruto challenged Riara University to explore opportunities at Konza Technopolis (Kenya’s Silicon Savannah) by partnering with tech firms and start-ups to equip students with practical skills in digital innovation.
“Be bold, be different, and pioneer innovations that tackle Kenya and Africa’s biggest challenges” he said.
Raila Odinga Calls for Private Sector Growth
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga urged young people to think beyond government jobs, warning against over-reliance on government jobs. He called for more investment in entrepreneurship and private sector growth to absorb the increasing number of graduates.
“The private sector should be expanded so that it can absorb most of the youth graduating from institutions of higher learning” Odinga said.
With the charter grant, Riara University is now part of the list of fully accredited universities in Kenya, a milestone in the education sector transformation.