List of Kenyan Universities With Over 10,000 Students

Data from the Council of University Education (CUE) show that 20 universities in Kenya now enroll over 10,000 students each.

The data shows Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) at the top with 44,112 students, showing the growing demand for tertiary education across public and private institutions.

Full list of institutions hosting 10,000 students

1. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has a total of 44,112 students. 60.5% of these are male, while 30% of the total number of students are female gender.
2. The University of Nairobi (UoN) has 41,174 students, with a gender distribution of 54.9% male and 45% female.
3. Kenyatta University is home to 36,013 students, with 52.7% male and 47% female.
4. Mount Kenya University has 53.8% male students and 46% female students, for a total of 30,448 students.
5. Maseno University has a total of 27,025 students, with 53.6% male and 46% female representation.
6. Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology hosts 24,277 students, with 55.7% and 45% with the highest enrolment being male and the rest being female.
7. Egerton University has a distribution of 20,620 students
8. University of Eldoret houses 17,805 students
9. Moi University consists of 17,067 students
10. Kisii University boasts a total number of 16,905 students
11. Chuka University has an enrolment of 16,775 students
12. United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa) houses a total of 16,771 students
13. Technical University of Kenya (TUK), in Nairobi, offers studies to13,670 students
14. Kabaraka University has a total population of 13,379 students
15. KCA University also gets into the list with 12,527 students
16. Karatina University is home to 11,902 students
17. Kirinyaga University houses a total of 11,730 students
18. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology has a population of 11,523 students
19. University of Kabianga enrolled a total of 11,136 students
20. Rongo University registered 11,078 students

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Distinctively, these higher education institutions show a higher number of enrolled students being of the male gender, while the female students mark a lower rate of registration.

Challenges faced by high-enrolment institutions

Universities with large enrolments often struggle with significant operational and educational shortcomings.

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1. Overcrowding in facilities, forcing students to strain to access resources, results in packed lecture halls, libraries, and laboratories, making interactive teaching difficult and reducing individual attention.
2. Shortage of student accommodation – campus hostels are at times limited, forcing students into off-campus housing that’s often expensive, unsafe, or distant, impacting class attendance.
3. High staff shortages – with enrolments soaring, faculty numbers haven’t kept pace, leading to ratios far above ideal levels, resulting in overburdened lecturers, reduced personal feedback, and a possible decline in teaching quality.
4. Financial pressures and debt – many public universities face massive financial pressures due to reduced government funding and reliance on student fees. This leads to delayed projects and occasional closures.
5. Inadequate infrastructure, such as outdated laboratories and old buildings, is a common sight at most public institutions due to insufficient maintenance funding.

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