HISTORY
AND SETTING
As
an institution of higher learning, the University of Nairobi has contributed
greatly to the development of Kenya. The university, in turn, has benefited
much from its location, in the country's capital, Nairobi, as well as, from
the efforts of the nation's diverse population. Below are some highlights of
the University development, as well as, factual information on its setting.
HISTORY
The
University of Nairobi owes its origin to several developments in higher education
within the country and the region. The idea of an institution for higher learning
in Kenya goes back to 1947 when the Kenya Government drew up a plan for the
establishment of a technical and commercial institute in Nairobi. By 1949, this
plan had grown into an East African concept aimed at providing higher technical
education for the region. In September 1951, a Royal Charter was issued to the
Royal Technical College of East Africa and the foundation stone of the college
was laid in April 1952.
During
the same period, the Asian Community of East Africa was also planning to build
a College for Arts, Science and Commerce as a living memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.
To avoid duplication of efforts, Gandhi Memorial Academy Society agreed to
merge interests with those of the East African Governments. Thus, the Gandhi
Memorial Academy was incorporated into the Royal Technical College of East
Africa in April 1954, and the college. Proceeded to open its doors to the first
intake of students in April 1956.
Soon
after the arrival of students at the college, the pattern of higher education
in East Africa came under scrutiny. Through the recommendation of a working
party formed in 1958, chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of London,
Sir John Lockwood, the Royal Technical College of East Africa was transformed.
On 25th June .1961, the College became the second University College in East
Africa, under the name "Royal College Nairobi."
The
Royal College Nairobi was renamed "University College, Nairobi" on
20th May 1964. On the attainment of "University College" status,
the institution prepared students for bachelor's degrees awarded by the University
of London, while also continuing to offer college diploma programmes. The University
College Nairobi, provided educational opportunities in this capacity until
1966 when it began preparing students exclusively for degrees of the University
of East Africa, with the exception of the Department of Domestic Science.
With
effect from 1 st July 1970, the University of East Africa was dissolved and
the three East African countries set up their national Universities. This development
saw the birth of the University of Nairobi set up by an Act of Parliament.
Since
1970, the University of Nairobi has seen many innovations,
which have contributed to its development and that of the
nation. It has grown from a faculty based university serving
a student population of 2,768 (2,584 undergraduate and 184
post graduate students), to a college focused university serving
22,000 students in the 2001/02 Academic Year (about 17,200
undergraduate and 4,800 postgraduate students). To attain
this level of educational progress has been no small feat.
Recent years have witnessed the following:
- Mushrooming
of academic programmes in the 1970s;
- Establishment
of Campus Colleges in 1985:
- First
double intake in 1986;
- Property
acquisition resulting in Lower Kabete and Parklands Campuses
in 1988; and the
- Intake
of the first students undertaking the University component
of
- the
8-4-4 educational system in 1990. Introduction of Module II
and part-time programmes.
Truly,
the University's development has been as broad as its current
scope is wide. From a humble beginning as a technical college
to the status of a major international teaching and research
institution, the University of Nairobi has produced more trained
human resources than any other' institution of higher learning
in Kenya, with over 40,000 graduates to its credit.
More on History
SETTING
Kenya
Kenya
became independent in December 1963. The republic is approximately
582,644 square Kilometers and lies astride the equat6r on
the Eastern seaboard of Africa. Kenya's coastline on the Indian
Ocean stretches from the Somalia border in the north, to Tanzania
in the south, a distance of 620 Kilometers'
Kenya
lies between Somalia to the East, Ethiopia to the North, Sudan
to the northwest, Uganda to the West and Tanzania to the South.
The country is cut across by the Great Rift Valley which runs
from North to South and whose depth is between 610 and 914
meters below the rest of the landscape.
Altitude
governs the climate of different parts of Kenya. The land
above 1609 meters enjoys a climate with good rainfall. Being
on the equator, there are no marked seasonal changes. In
most parts of the country there are two rainy seasons - "long"
and "short" rains.
The
economy of Kenya, at present, depends mainly on agriculture
(tea, coffee, dairy produce, meat, sisal pyrethrum) and tourism.
There is fairly extensive light industry in Nairobi and to
a lesser extent in other large towns. One tourist attraction
is the large variety of flora and fauna to be found in the
National Parks.
Kenya's
population is about 30 million with a concentration in the
central and western parts of the country. The northern and
Northeastern parts of the country have sparse population due
to the semi, desert climatic conditions prevalent there.
Nairobi
The
University is situated in Nairobi, a fast growing city with
a population of over 3.5 million. The city center has an area
of over 700 square kilometers and stands at an altitude of
1,675 meters above sea level. It is 140 kilometers south of
the equator and some 480 kilometres west of the Indian Ocean
This beautiful city experiences no real winter or summer because
it is near the equator and at a high altitude. The days in
Nairobi are warm and the nights cool for the greater part
of the year. With the temperature rarely rising above 80 degrees
F (27 degrees C) in the middle of the day or falling below
50 degrees F (10 degrees C) at night, Nairobi enjoys a temperate
climate. The hottest periods, however, occur between January
and March and August and October with the coolest period in
July. The long rains fall from the end of March to the end
of May while the short rains are experienced from the end
of October to December. The average annual rainfall is about
800 centirnetres.
Nairobi
is the capital, commercial, administrative and cultural centre
of Kenya. In Nairobi are found the Parliament Buildings, Headquarters
of Government Ministries and Departments. Also, the city is
home to City Hall, State House, National Museums of Kenya,
Snake Park, Aviary, Arboretum, Mosques Municipal Markets,
Art Galleries, Kenyatta International Conference Centre which
houses one of the largest Conference Halls in the World, about
a dozen cinemas, numerous hotels, coffee houses am beautiful
parks.
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