President William Ruto on the occasion of the award of a
charter to Riara University on March 19, 2025.President William Ruto has urged universities to forge partnerships with the private sector to commercialise innovations and develop market-driven programmes.
Ruto said the partnerships should also equip students with future-ready skills and leverage technology and digital platforms to expand access to learning opportunities.
The President further challenges universities to design programmes that equip graduates with the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to excel in an increasingly competitive, highly dynamic and globalised job market.
“It is no secret that chronic underfunding has been a critical impediment to the ability of our universities to design and implement market-oriented programmes that align with the needs of a modern economy,” he noted.
Ruto made the remarks on March 19, 2025 on the occasion of the award of a charter to Riara University
The President asked Riara University to lead the way in mobilising the necessary resources to actualise its Konza Campus into a centre of excellence in technology innovation, not just within Konza Technopolis, but across Africa.
“As you do this, I encourage you to be bold and different in order to pioneer innovative training and research programmes that tackle Kenya and Africa’s greatest challenges head-on,” he said.
Ruto said the award of the charter was yet another significant milestone in our country's journey to improve the quality and, at the same time, expand access to quality higher education by strengthening the university sector's capacity to meet the human development needs of an ambitious people, manage the dynamic imperatives of a globalised economy and address the innovative gaps of our nation and region.
Ruto assured that the government will remain committed to the growth and development of higher education sector.
“We shall continue to design policies that transform universities into hubs of research, innovation, and excellence,” he said.
Founded in 2012 by veteran educationists Daniel Gachukia and his wife Prof Eddah Gachukia, Riara University, based in Konza, Machakos County, becomes the 69th fully chartered university in Kenya out of 75 in operation.
Ruto honoured Daniel and Eddah Gachukia with the Order of
the Elder of the Burning Spear (EBS) in recognition of their sterling roles in
Kenya's education sector.
Present were former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Chief of Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri.
