Mount Kenya University (MKU) has unveiled plans to focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI), unveiling new AI academic programmes and AI-driven approaches to learning.
This was announced on Friday, August 8, 2025 during the university’s 27th graduation ceremony, themed “Catalysing Innovation: Universities as Drivers of Artificial Intelligence”.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony, MKU Vice Chancellor Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi said the theme reflects MKU’s renewed strategic direction—one that positions AI as central to teaching and learning.
As part of this transformation, the university has introduced 13 new and revised programmes, including flagship courses such as the Master’s and Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.
“Our graduation theme today precisely captures the University’s renewed and envisaged strategic direction, rethinking where all university curricula will embrace artificial intelligence attributes, to effectively enhance pedagogy for increased educational outcomes,” said Prof Jaganyi.
“In this regard, MKU has continued to mount new curricula as well as revise and revamp the existing curricula. To this end, the University Council has approved and supported a total of 13 programmes, key among these curricula being Master of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, both of which will be offered in the School of Computing and Informatics.”
At the graduation ceremony, more than 6,000 graduands were conferred and awarded bachelor’s (5,447), master’s (691)) and doctoral degrees (10).
Among the graduands were 86 students from the Equip Africa Institute, the Kitale-based MKU affiliate specialising in training healthcare workers.
Dr Vincent Giatho said that in line with the University’s vision to be a global hub for excellence in education, research, and innovation, AI would be key in enhancing operational efficiency, supporting faculty-led research and driving student innovation.
Other than new courses, the university has recently introduced AI-enabled systems in the management of the institution.
“An integration of AI into core systems and processes helps to streamline operations and strengthen service delivery. An AI-integrated ICT system significantly enhances the ability to monitor and manage key academic and administrative functions in real-time,” said Dr Gaitho.
“MKU continues to embrace AI as a strategic enabler in its digital transformation journey. The Council has approved the implementation of a robust ICT system known as University Integrated Resource Platform (UnIRP), a major catalyst in the university’s vision of digital transformation, institutional excellence, and student-centered service delivery.”
“By embracing advancements in technology, the University Council hopes to improve the teaching and learning experience of our students and enhance operational efficiency at the University.”
At the same time, Dr Tonny Omwansa, chief executive officer, Kenya National Innovation Agency (Kenia), also noted the importance of innovation and AI, saying it offered young people limitless opportunities not just now but also in years to come.
“The theme of MKU’s 27th Graduation ceremony recognizes that universities like MKU are not just consumers of trends but are expected to be catalysts of trends that shape socio-economic development, actively shaping innovation and AI-driven discourse in academia and industry,” he said in his keynote speech at the graduation.
He further urged the graduands and students still pursuing their studies to make the best of AI, noting they stand to get the best of a new era.
“MKU competitively obtained a new status of United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) position as the UNAI SDG 9 Hub Chair on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure for a three-year period that shall end in 2027,” said Prof. John Struthers, Chancellor of MKU.
The new designation comes after MKU was in 2021 named the UNAI Hub for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10 on Reduced Inequalities for a three-year period.
“This position brings together other universities that serve as the Vice-Chairs to this Hub; two of which are LaSalle University of Spain and Japan’s Nagaoka University of Technology,” said Prof Struthers.
“Notably, this position has raised the University’s visibility globally as evidenced by MKU’s physical representation at the Global Higher Education Symposium at the UN Headquarters in New York City in July 2025 in the privileged discussion on Higher Education Institutions’ role in support of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
Prof Struthers also announced the establishment of the Mount Kenya University Alumni Award with a cash prize of Sh5 million.
He said the award seeks to identify individuals who have made remarkable contributions to society post-graduation. The inaugural award will be competitively awarded during the December 2025 graduation.
