NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has called for the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) to be renamed in honour of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, citing his lifelong contribution to technical and engineering education.
In a statement released Friday, Kuria said he had formally written to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba requesting that the institution be renamed Raila Odinga Technical University.
“I have today written to Education CS Julius Ogamba requesting to rename the Technical University of Kenya into Raila Odinga Technical University. If I were CS, I would do it straight away,” Kuria said.
The former Trade and Public Service Cabinet Secretary noted that Raila, a trained engineer who once lectured at the University of Nairobi’s School of Engineering, was an ardent advocate of technical education from his student days at Madelberg College in Germany.
Kuria said the renaming would be a fitting posthumous tribute to the opposition leader’s contributions to education, devolution, and nation-building.
“Raila Odinga’s legacy goes beyond politics. His passion for technical training and industrial development shaped national policy and inspired generations,” he added.
The Technical University of Kenya, previously known as the Kenya Polytechnic, was historically the engineering wing of the University of Nairobi.
The Technical University of Kenya (TUK) previously The Kenya Polytecnic was once the Engineering wing of the Unoversity of Nairobi. Engineer Raila Odinga was not just a lecturer at UON School of Engineering. He was also an ardent believer in technical education since his days at
How a University Can Be Renamed
Renaming a public university in Kenya is a detailed, multi-step process governed by the Universities Act, 2012, the Technical University of Kenya Charter (2013), and the Constitution of Kenya.
The process begins with a formal proposal, which can be submitted by government officials, alumni, or members of the public.
The University Council must then review and deliberate on the proposal before seeking input from key stakeholders — including the Senate, staff unions, students, alumni, and the general public.
If the Council supports the proposal, it forwards a recommendation to the Commission for University Education (CUE) for evaluation and approval.
The CUE ensures compliance with legal and academic standards before the matter is referred to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and ultimately to the President, whose approval and publication in the Kenya Gazette make the name change official.
If approved, renaming TUK to Raila Odinga Technical University would stand as one of the most significant institutional honors for the late ODM leader — widely regarded as the “father of devolution.”
