Kenyatta University (KU) has once again beaten the University of Nairobi (UoN) in key areas of the latest global and impact rankings.
According to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, Kenyatta University demonstrated strong performance across various indicators and impact areas, reflecting steady progress in global engagement, teaching quality, and societal contribution.
Kenya has 11 universities in the overall Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
KU Beats UoN Again in Latest Rankings
KU outshines UoN in important indicators such as international outlook and social impact measures.
In the 2025 Impact Rankings, KU ranks 1001–1500 overall, surpassing UoN in areas like Good Health and Wellbeing (201–300), Zero Hunger (201–300), and Reduced Inequalities (201–300).
These rankings show KU’s strength in addressing societal challenges and engaging with the global academic community.
UoN, Kenya’s oldest and largest university, still leads in teaching and research scores, including Teaching (15.9) and Research Quality (39.7), and performs well in specialized fields like Medical & Health (601–800).
Despite this, the latest data confirms that KU has taken the lead in overall impact and international presence, marking another win for the university.
With over 70,000 students across 13 campuses, KU continues to expand its programs and online learning initiatives, while UoN maintains its strong academic tradition with more than 80,000 students and a vast alumni network.
Also Read: UoN Beats KU in Latest University Ranking in Kenya
JOOUST Joins UoN
The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) has continued to make its mark in higher education through steady growth in research, innovation, and community impact.
According to the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2025, JOOUST secured an overall position in the 1501+ band, with notable performance in key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as No Poverty and Zero Hunger (both ranked 401–600), and Life Below Water (401–600).
These results reflect the university’s strong focus on agriculture, environmental sustainability, and the blue economy.
In addition, Egerton University appeared on the list of 1501+ band, even though it was not assigned a ranking.
Also Read: University of Nairobi Drops in 2026 World Rankings
Best Universities
According to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, the University of Oxford has retained the top spot globally with an overall score of 98.2. It is followed closely by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) at 97.7, and Princeton University, which ties for third place with an overall score of 97.2.
| 2026 Rank | Institution | Country/Region | 2025 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Oxford | United Kingdom | 1 |
| 2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | United States | 2 |
| =3 | Princeton University | United States | 4 |
| =3 | University of Cambridge | United Kingdom | 5 |
| 5 | Harvard University | United States | 3 |
| 5 | Stanford University | United States | 6 |
| 7 | California Institute of Technology | United States | 7 |
| 8 | Imperial College London | United Kingdom | 9 |
| 9 | University of California, Berkeley | United States | 8 |
| 10 | Yale University | United States | 10 |
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