President Uhuru Kenyatta today awarded a Charter to Umma University after the institution met all the requirements by the Commission for University Education and the Ministry of Education, State House has said.
Uhuru presented the Charter to the university's administration at Mombasa State House, where he's set to spent a week after a busy week.
Umma is an Islamic institution of higher learning whose main campus is located in Kajiado. It has branches at Thika in Makongeni and in Nairobi Central Business District.
The institution becomes the first Islamic university to be cleared by the Commission for University Education, a move which now allows it to offer degrees, diplomas and certificate courses sponsored by itself.
The President presented the University Charter, Mace, Logo, Seal and two volumes of the Accreditation Report to Umma University officials at State House, Mombasa.
The Head of State encouraged universities to develop and nurture partnerships with the private sector and county governments geared towards finding solutions to some of the challenges facing Kenyans.
The move comes amid ongoing radical changes in the education ministry, with Prof George Magoha proposing merger of public universities to reduce expenditure.
Kenya is keen to to have more students enrolled in higher learning institutions, with former President Mwai Kibaki credited for expansion of university education.
Ever since taking over in 2013, Uhuru has managed to elevate only two public colleges to university status, with Kirinyaga and Kibabii falling in the category.