President William Ruto has announced plans to create a new State Department mainly charged with research and innovation in the country.
Ruto who spoke when he awarded charter to Riara University expressed the government’s commitment to the growth of higher education in the country.
“I am seriously considering a State Department to deal specifically with research, development and innovation as a way of ensuring that we grow that space because of the tremendous opportunity that exists in innovation and research," he said.
According to the Head of State, the government is keen on designing policies that help to transform universities into hubs of research, innovation and excellence.
Currently, research is under the State Department of Higher Education.
The event held at State House saw the attendance of ODM leader Raila Odinga, and Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba among other top state officials.
Ruto also used the opportunity to hail the founders of the varsity for their contribution to the growth of education and the progress of the country.
He assured them that the government through the Commission for University Education (CUE) would be at hand to offer the necessary support and guidance required to properly propel the institution.
“The Ministry of Education will also work with you to ensure we deliver quality education that is affordable, accessible and that is relevant,” he said.
The university's main campus is just next to Nyayo Highrise Estate in Kibera, Nairobi County.
It was founded in 2012 by Daniel Gachukia and Dr Eddah Gachukia.
The couple is also the founding directors of The Riara Group of Schools, which comprises two Kindergartens, two primary schools, an international preparatory school, an international high school and a Girls’ Secondary School.
The university was established under the Universities Act (2012), having been approved by the CUE to operate under a Letter of Interim Authority on August 2, 2012.
The university is fully accredited by the Council of Legal Education and also holds full accreditation status from the Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examinations Board (KASNEB) as a training centre as well as an examination centre.
The university runs Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Secretary (CS), and Accounting Technicians Diploma (ATD) courses under this accreditation.
In 2021, the Ministry of Education introduced the Teacher Professional Development Program (TPD), and all teachers employed by the Teachers Service Commission are to undergo the training.
