The latest QS university rankings place the University of Nairobi (UoN) at the top in Kenya, ranking 17th in Africa with an overall score of 62.9.
The institution scored high in academic reputation and demonstrated strong research output, with 33.1 papers per faculty and 35.7 citations per paper.
Following closely is Kenyatta University, ranked 25th in Africa with an overall score of 41.9.
The university registered 10.9 papers per faculty and 45.5 citations per paper, alongside an academic reputation score of 64.7.
Moi University, based in Eldoret, ranks 32nd in Africa with an overall score of 29.1, while Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) ranks 33rd with an overall score of 28.9. JKUAT posted a notable 59.7 citations per paper, despite a lower academic reputation of 26.7.
Egerton University, located in Njoro, is ranked 41st in Africa with a score of 21.7, and recorded 56.4 citations per paper but only 5 papers per faculty, reflecting a lower research output.
Machakos University appears in the QS data as operational but is ranked 51+, with no overall score, due to eligibility criteria.
The institution had 86.4 citations per paper but a very low academic reputation score of 4 and only 2.6 papers per faculty.
QS noted that the operational status of institutions is based on the information available during the data collection period.
Institutions that actively submit data but are not ranked in the final list are recognized as QS Contributors, reflecting their transparency and engagement with global academic standards.
These rankings highlight the dominance of Nairobi-based universities in Kenya’s higher education landscape, particularly in research output and academic reputation.
Also Read: Kenyatta University Beats UoN Again in Latest Rankings
QS Ranking of UoN in Africa
The University of Cape Town has been named the best university in Sub-Saharan Africa in the first-ever QS ranking for the region, which features 69 institutions this year.
While South African universities dominated the top spots, other countries also made their mark. The University of Ghana and University of Ibadan were the highest-ranked institutions from Ghana and Nigeria, respectively.
In East Africa, institutions from Uganda and Kenya also featured among the top 20.
| Rank | University | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Cape Town | South Africa |
| 2 | University of Johannesburg | South Africa |
| 3 | University of Witwatersrand | South Africa |
| 4 | Stellenbosch University | South Africa |
| 5 | University of Pretoria | South Africa |
| 6 | University of Kwazulu-Natal | South Africa |
| 7 | North-West University | South Africa |
| 8 | University of Ghana | Ghana |
| 9 | University of the Free State | South Africa |
| 10 | University of the Western Cape | South Africa |
| 11 | University of Ibadan | Nigeria |
| 12 | Rhodes University | South Africa |
| 13 | Addis Ababa University | Ethiopia |
| 14 | Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology | Ghana |
| 15 | University of Lagos | Nigeria |
| 16 | Makerere University | Uganda |
| 17 | University of Nairobi | Kenya |
| 18 | Nelson Mandela University | South Africa |
| 19 | University of Nigeria Nsukka | Nigeria |
| 20 | Covenant University, Nigeria | Nigeria |
Also Read: University of Nairobi Drops in 2026 World Rankings
QS Sub-Saharan Africa Ranking Highlights Top Universities Across the Continent
The inaugural QS World University Rankings: Sub-Saharan Africa evaluates key areas of institutional performance across the region. In this first edition, 69 universities from 21 countries have been ranked.
The ranking aims to spotlight the continent’s leading higher education institutions while fostering a more nuanced conversation about academic performance, progress, and opportunities across African universities.
It provides insights into how different institutions excel within their unique national and regional contexts, offering prospective students and researchers a clearer picture of the region’s higher education landscape.
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![Uon Beats Kenyatta University In Latest University Rankings [Full List]](https://cdn.thekenyatimes.com/uploads/2025/08/Moi-University-main-campus-in-Eldoret-PHOTOBizna-News.png "Uon Beats Kenyatta University In Latest University Rankings [Full List]")
