In the heart of Kajiado County, Kenya, where the charm of nature meets cultural diversity, “United States University” stands out as one of the most important academic landmarks that has successfully established its position over the past two decades.

Today, Tuesday, Kenyan President William Ruto officially inaugurated the university after years of work, making it the first fully integrated Islamic university in the country.

During the inauguration, the Kenyan president stated that his government is working to empower higher education institutions to shape a new generation of graduates with skills, ethics, and innovation, ready to create jobs, develop technology, and address urgent challenges of our time.

To achieve this vision, the president pointed to enhancing governance at the university, restructuring funding, and introducing a transformative student-centered financing model, which leads to reduced fees and opens higher education doors to more learners across the country.

The president laid the foundation stone for the third phase of the engineering faculty construction, describing the step as important to equip Kenyan youth with the tools needed for innovation, construction, and leadership in tomorrow’s industries.

The university was founded in 1997 in Thika town under the name Thika College of Sharia and Islamic Studies by the late Kuwaiti doctor Abdul Rahman Al-Sumait, with ongoing support from the Kuwaiti “Direct Aid” Association.

Over the years, the college expanded, gaining official accreditation for its first programs in 2007, and that same year established cooperation with the International University of Africa in Sudan, beginning to award bachelor’s degrees.

In 2013, it transformed into a university and changed its name to United States University, adding new majors alongside Sharia, and its degrees became accredited by the Kenyan Ministry of Education. It gradually evolved from a small nucleus to a multi-faculty university attracting students not only from across the country but also from East Africa.

In October 2019, former President Uhuru Kenyatta granted it the “University Charter,” making it a fully government-recognized university.

Despite the many Christian colleges and universities in Kenya, United States University is the first recognized Islamic university in the country, according to Dr. Halima Saidu Abdullah, the university’s vice president.

She adds that all university students, regardless of their majors, study Arabic, a general introduction to Islam, and Islamic history.

Although it started from an Islamic background, the university did not limit its programs to Sharia studies but opened its doors to modern specializations. Today, it has five faculties specializing in Islamic studies, law and Sharia, nursing and midwifery, business and technology, education and social sciences, alongside graduate programs.

Coinciding with the inauguration, the university announced the launch of several new faculties and departments, including a PhD program in Islamic studies, as well as an institute for vocational and technical education and training.

Dr. Halima Abdullah points out that other faculties, such as medicine and engineering, have been accredited and are expected to start soon.

The second phase of the project development included building a modern nine-story university building with classrooms, a library, laboratories, medical and administrative facilities, as well as expanding student housing, installing solar energy systems, and integrated digital security monitoring systems.

The university is keen to combine modern curricula with human values, considering education not limited to theoretical knowledge but also building a balanced personality capable of serving society.

For years, it has encouraged its faculty and students to engage in research related to local development issues such as food security, agricultural innovation, civil peace, and community building, making it an active partner in addressing Kenya’s developmental challenges.

The university campus is characterized by a rich cultural mix, where students from Nairobi, Mombasa, Lamu, and Garissa meet alongside students from many African countries. This diversity adds a rich educational experience reflecting Kenya as a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country.

Regarding funding sources, the university relies on tuition fees covering a large part of its expenses, in addition to some donors, foremost among them the “Direct Aid” Association responsible for building and developing university facilities and providing scholarships to some students.

On serving Muslim issues in Kenya and beyond, the university’s vice president says the university is based on several projects, the most important being educating Muslim children, especially in Kenya, and scientifically qualifying them to enter the labor market with required competence.

The university’s impact is not limited to Kenya; it includes students from Rwanda, Somalia, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, as well as students from Qatar, Canada, Australia, and the United States. It also hosts student housing, primary and secondary schools, and an orphanage.

Despite successes, the university still faces challenges related to research funding and infrastructure expansion in a country witnessing fierce competition between public and private universities. However, the university administration sees these challenges as motivation for further development, aiming to become one of the leading universities in East Africa in the coming years.

The vice president points out that the university now has about 3,000 students in all majors and offers scholarships to needy Kenyan students and refugees.

The university has established sponsorship partnerships with several institutions and companies to train its students and then open job opportunities for them after graduation.

It accepts all students and is not limited to Muslims only, but notes that non-Muslims make up about 10%, confirming there are no restrictions preventing their enrollment.

Regarding cooperation with other universities, Dr. Halima says United States University has close cooperation with the International University of Africa in Sudan and the Islamic University of Madinah, which provide faculty members and scholarships to many students.

Today, United States University is no longer just an educational institution in Kenya but an academic landmark attracting students from abroad and producing graduates who contribute to work fields inside and outside Kenya.

Between academic ambition and spiritual roots, the university continues its journey in shaping a new generation combining modern knowledge and social awareness.