NAIROBI, Kenya – More than 3,000 graduands have been conferred with degrees and diplomas at the University of Nairobi (UoN) as the institution sets its sights on expansion, innovation and research commercialisation.
The graduates received their awards on Friday during the university’s 75th graduation ceremony, attended by parents, faculty members and senior government officials.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba challenged the Class of 2026 to move beyond the traditional pursuit of white-collar employment and use their skills to create opportunities and address challenges facing society.
Ogamba Challenges Graduates to Create Jobs
Ogamba told the graduates that Kenya needs professionals who can combine their academic training with innovation and entrepreneurship.
“Kenya does not need graduates who are simply looking for jobs. We need graduates who can also create opportunities, solve problems, innovate, and contribute to the transformation of our economy and society,” Ogamba said.
The Cabinet Secretary urged graduates to adapt to rapid changes in artificial intelligence, digital technology and climate adaptation.
He encouraged them to embrace continuous learning and assess their careers not only through their initial earnings but also through the impact they make in their communities and the enterprises they establish.
New UoN Leadership Sets Out Transformation Agenda
The graduation ceremony also provided Prof. Eng. Ayub Gitau with an opportunity to deliver his inaugural graduation address since becoming the university’s ninth Vice Chancellor on July 17.
Gitau outlined a transformation roadmap aimed at positioning UoN as a hub for research, innovation and solutions to challenges facing Africa.
He said the university was moving beyond the traditional boundaries of academia by creating platforms that bring together universities, government, industry, innovators and young people.
“The University of Nairobi is increasingly playing a role that extends beyond the traditional boundaries of academia,” Gitau said.
He said the institution was creating spaces where ideas could be tested against some of Africa’s most pressing challenges while bringing different sectors together to shape the continent’s future.
UoN Targets Research Commercialisation
Gitau pointed to the university’s engagement with government, businesses and innovators as part of efforts to strengthen the practical application of academic research.
He cited the recent African First Summit, which brought President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron to the university to discuss areas including artificial intelligence, green industrialisation and global health.
The Vice Chancellor said such engagements demonstrate the institution’s ambition to connect academic research with real-world challenges and opportunities.
Council Chair Hails Leadership Stability
University of Nairobi Council Chairperson Prof. Chacha Nyaigotti-Chacha praised the formal installation of Gitau as Vice Chancellor and Prof. Josiah Aduda as Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance, Planning and Development.
Chacha said the appointments had restored substantive leadership and administrative stability at the university.
He also credited the institution’s continued performance to the collective contribution of its staff across different departments and levels.
Staff Urged to Uphold UoN Legacy
Chacha called on university employees to perform their duties with professionalism and commitment, regardless of their positions.
“Whatever office you hold, hold it to the best of your ability. If you are called to teach, teach with excellence. If you are called to heal, heal with compassion. And if you are called to clean, clean with pride,” he said.
He added that the strength of the university depended on the combined contribution of every member of staff.
More Than 3,000 Graduates Join Workforce
The ceremony concluded with the traditional turning of the tassels, marking the transition of the graduates from university life into the workforce.
The more than 3,000 graduates now join Kenya’s professional workforce at a time when employers and economies are being reshaped by technological change, climate challenges and evolving demands for innovation.
University of Nairobi’s leadership said the institution would continue strengthening its role in research, innovation and partnerships as it prepares for its next phase of growth.
