His Excellency President Dr. William Ruto awarded a charter to Gretsa University on 17th November 2025 at State House, Nairobi officially elevating it into Kenya’s league of fully fledged private universities.

The ceremony was not only historic for Gretsa University but also deeply reflective for the President, who used the moment to look back at key decisions he made while serving as Minister for Higher Education in 2010.

During the ceremony, President Ruto recalled one of the defining challenges of his tenure: how to ensure high school graduates transitioned smoothly into university without long delays.
“I had to make the difficult decision to orchestrate a double intake so that high school graduates would not wait for two years to join university,” he said. “I am proud that this decision helped reduce high school dropout rates.”

 
His Excellency President William Ruto delivers his address at State House, Nairobi, during the charter award ceremony for Gretsa University on 17th November 2025

Another issue he revisited was the long-standing perception that technical education was only for those who ‘failed’ to qualify for university. At the time, the government funded university education but not technical colleges, a gap the President felt duty bound to close.

“Technical education was considered a course for people who are not qualified,” he said. “I had to make a decision to align technical education and ensure that students joining technical colleges also receive student loans and bursaries.”
 

His Excellency the President signs the Gretsa University charter. He is flanked by Education Cabinet Secretary Hon. Migos Ogamba (3rd from left), alongside the CUE and Gretsa University delegations.

He remembered scholars fiercely debating the issue in newspapers, but he remained determined to have technical training recognized, valued and supported. Today, he said, that decision has paid off.

“I’m proud that STEM in technical education has generated scientists of the future, much more practical. This has made the work of the Education Cabinet Secretary (Waziri) easier. Waziri, you are doing a good job.”

The President also celebrated the growth of technical institutions across the country: from 143 colleges to 254, and from 384,000 students to over 700,000 currently enrolled. He reminded the audience including the Gretsa University community that universities must always uphold access, relevance and affordability.

ac“I urge Gretsa University to consider these three things,” he said. “Sometimes people teach for degrees and papers. We should figure out how to make education truly transformative.”
  

His Excellency President William Ruto (3rd from left), Education Cabinet Secretary Hon. Migos Ogamba (5th from left), CUE Board Chairman Prof. James Awino (2nd from left), Commissioner Vincent Nyabiosi (far left), and CUE CEO Prof. Mike (far right) during the award of a charter to Gretsa University on 17th November 2025.

Reflecting on his first days in office three years ago, President Ruto highlighted the critical teacher shortage and the confusion surrounding the new Competency-Based Education (CBE) system. “Many parents, guardians, teachers and students did not understand it. At the same time, many universities were insolvent, leading the government to suspend the placement of government-sponsored students in private universities until public institutions stabilized.”

“You know education is a very emotive issue,” he noted. “Everyone is looking for ways to navigate, and parents become protective of their children.”

He expressed satisfaction that the system has now stabilized, with a seamless transition from CBE to CBET, and the teacher shortage addressed.

“By next week, the government will be able to hire 100,000 teachers,” he announced. “We have built 23,000 schools, and 1,600 laboratories will be constructed in remote areas. Situations where learners first interact with laboratory equipment during examinations will become a thing of the past.”

The Head of State also emphasized improvements in student financing. The new funding model, Student Access Funding, now ensures equal access to support for all students regardless of background.

“It is now possible not to lock out students,” he said. “Everyone has equal access to funding.”

His Excellency President William Ruto (7th from right) with the Commission Secretariat during the award of a charter to Gretsa University on 17th November 2025

The President explained why he prioritised funding students in public universities first. Strengthening public institutions, he said, is necessary before expanding support to private ones, though future partnerships with development partners will create more training spaces.

President Ruto underscored the centrality of education to Kenya’s economic future.

“As a country, the biggest investment is our human capital,” he said. “The resources we get from Kenyans working outside the country amount to 5.1 billion dollars  more than we earn from tea or coffee exports.”

He praised Kenyan workers abroad, noting that their competence has earned the country fresh opportunities such as the recent 13,000 job slots offered by Qatar.

“Kenyan human capital is premier,” he affirmed. “Kenyans speak good English compared to their fellow Africans. The more our people work abroad, the more they gain exposure  and this becomes a national resource.”

But he urged universities and training institutions to ensure the country continues producing top-tier skills. He recalled how, during his time as Minister, many people dismissed courses like plumbing  until the country began constructing the SGR and realised it lacked the skilled workforce needed.

“We had to import plumbers from China,” he said.

The Head of State encouraged Gretsa University and all universities to deepen partnerships and collaborations that strengthen technical and professional skills aligned to the job market’s demands.

“Improve skills and professionals in technical fields required for the job market,” he urged. “Use our great human resource to develop our country. Skills transfer is equally important.”

Article by Evelyn Okewo 
Ag. Deputy Director, Corporate Communications, Commission for University Education