The Council of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), led by Chairman Dr. James Micah Onsando, has successfully concluded a comprehensive working visit to the University’s Mombasa and Nakuru Campuses and the Wafula Wabuge Centre in Likuyani. The tour, which also included engagements with local leaders and stakeholders, reaffirmed JKUAT’s commitment to expanding access to quality education, deepening regional research, and accelerating technology transfer across Kenya and beyond.
The Council assessed infrastructure, academic programmes, community linkages, and innovation initiatives at each site, highlighting how JKUAT’s satellite facilities are driving the University’s national and international visibility while addressing region-specific development needs.
Speaking at the Wafula Wabuge Centre where the tour kicked off on Monday February 9, 2025, Dr. Onsando lauded the visionary leadership of the late Hon. Wafula Wabuge whose family donated the 50-acre piece of land to JKUAT for training and research activities.
Through the Centre, JKUAT already offers targeted practical training in key areas such as in modern dairy farming, crop husbandry and agribusiness, directly empowering local youth and smallholder farmers through extension services and community outreach. It exemplifies JKUAT’s lab-to-land approach, translating research into tangible improvements in food security and rural livelihoods.
While in Nakuru where the team was received by Campus Director, Dr. Daniel Wanyoike, the Council was briefed on the ongoing initiatives to strengthen training, outreach and research programmes. Situated in the Nakuru CBD, the campus delivers programmes in business information technology, commerce, development studies and related fields, serving the agricultural, manufacturing and services economy of the Rift Valley.
Dr. Wanyoike noted that the campus’ central location provides easy access to major transport corridors, local industries and farming communities, enabling strong industry-academia partnerships and applied research relevant to regional priorities such as value addition in agriculture and sustainable development.
The Director added that Nakuru Campus is served by a strong and dynamic team of researchers, making it a natural attraction point for students seeking JKUAT courses in the region. With a vibrant student community, Nakuru campus also undertakes a number of corporate social responsibility including environmental greening and mentorship.
At the Mombasa Campus, which also hosts the International Maritime Organization supported Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre for Africa, (MTCC-Africa) the Council lauded the efforts that have made the twin institutions preferred choice for coastal and upcountry learners seeking world-class credentials in a relaxed yet dynamic environment, significantly expanding JKUAT’s reach in the blue economy and service sectors.
Dr. Onsando singled out Mombasa Campus’ strategic location, engagement with local county leadership, good learning facilities and a vibrant workforce as key ingredients that should anchor its success.
Mombasa Campus Director, Dr. Evelyn Datche said the campus offers a rich portfolio of market-driven courses tailored to the needs of the coastal economy; including commerce, supply chain management, finance, business information technology, clinical medicine, and business administration. Evening and weekend classes make it particularly convenient for working professionals.
Located at the Mombasa Trade Centre on Nkrumah Road in the heart of the CBD, the campus has repeatedly been voted the most preferred training institution on the coast and, in November 2024, won the prestigious Satellite Campus of the Year Award at the JKUSA Awards.
Offering a bird’s eye view of the visited sites, Council Chairman Dr. Onsando noted: “these campuses are not mere extensions of the main campus — they are strategic engines that bring JKUAT’s excellence closer to the people. They enhance our visibility, increase access to quality education, and ensure our research and innovations directly serve Kenya’s diverse regions,”.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi said the campuses and centres are key to fulfilling JKUAT’s mandate of training, research, innovation and entrepreneurship for sustainable development. She assured the campuses of steadfast management support in pursuit of their respective objectives.
The tour concluded with renewed commitment to invest in infrastructure, expand TVET offerings, strengthen industry linkages, and accelerate commercialization of innovations originating from these regional hubs. The Council also visited the Kenya Ports Authority, where additional partnership areas were explored.
