By Emily Kiende
President William Ruto has called for artificial intelligence-driven higher education reforms.
The president urged universities to modernise higher education to prepare graduates for a rapidly evolving digital economy.
The head of state encouraged universities to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) in teaching, research, and administration.
“I urge all universities to integrate AI into their teaching, research, and institutional operations,” the president stated.This follows Kenya’s launch of the National AI Strategy 2025–2030, intended to position the country as a regional leader in AI innovation.
“Institutions must bridge the gap between theory and practice so that their graduates become job-creators, innovators, and central actors in Kenya’s industrialisation and economic growth,” he said.The Head of State also commended the Ministry of Education’s new national ODeL policy to strengthen the quality of online learning across universities.
“ I commend the Ministry of education for developing a national ODeL policy that will guide structured, high-quality online learning across our universities,” the President noted.President Ruto was speaking during the award of the charter to Gretsa University in State House, Nairobi.
He commended Gretsa University’s steady and impressive growth in academic stature since welcoming its first cohort of degree students in 2006.
Since it’s inception, Gretsa has hosted 13 graduation ceremonies and produced more than 8,500 graduates across degree, diploma and certificate programmes.
With Gretsa now joining the list of fully chartered institutions, Kenya now has 82 accredited universities, 45 public and 37 private.
“With today’s ceremony, Gretsa becomes the 31st private university to receive a full charter, further reinforcing the central role private institutions play in expanding access and cultivating work-ready graduates,” the President said.Also in attendance was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kenya’s Commission for University Education (CUE) Professor Mike Kuria, CUE Chairman, Professor James Onyango Awino, among other dignitaries.
