Our Story

The story of Lukenya institutions starts in 1991 at the place known as Lukenya hills in Mavoko (Athi river), Machakos (then Kathiani division), where the founders the Late Honourable. Rtd Justice Kasanga Mulwa and his wife Martha Kasanga Mulwa, decided to establish the Lukenya Academy primary school on their cattle farm. From this humble start of just 8 students and basic facilities the school eventually grew and eventually spawned three high schools and a tertiary college now known as the Lukenya Schools.

The Family eventually decided in 2011 to venture into university education and put together a steering committee team led by Andrew Mullei (former governor of the central bank, Professor Nyaigotti Chacha and Harris Mule (former p.s Treasury ) to develop the plans for the university .

Hon.Justice Kasanga Mulwa who was a three time Member of Parliament for Kibwezi constituency (1969-1983) and Judge of the high court and East African Court of justice had lived his life in Makueni and seen the region fall back in development under successive governments. He felt the need to give back to his people and the country by establishing a centre of learning and research. He strongly felt that Kenya being 70 per cent arid and semi-arid deserved a university that would lean towards these areas and their unique economic needs. Thus he donated a farm he had bought in 1991 in Mtito andei ward as the location for the new university that would bring the world to Kibwezi.

Construction begun in 2012 with a traditional blessing prayers and ground breaking ceremony led by former Councillor Wilson Mutunga (Ngiti Mosu) a long-time friend of the family. The university was officially opened by Professor Kivutha Kibwana in May 2014, and operated as Lukenya College offering diplomas and certificates in various courses awaiting accreditation by the Ministry of education to offer degree programmes. The founder Justice Kasanga Mulwa Passed away in March 2015. Later that year the university was accredited and officially begun admitting students in May 2016, in degree courses.

The first vice chancellor was Prof Nyaigotti Chacha, who laid a strong foundation for the young university and helped set the path for the next 6 years. We are now a fully-fledged university with four schools, and twenty three programmes as at 2021. 

Lukenya University is a Private University  was duly accredited and registered by the Commission for University Education (CUE) through award of Letter of Interim Authority (November 2015).

We are located at Mtito- Andei Ward, in Makueni County in Kenya.  The Main Campus is built along the banks of the Athi River/Galana River and neighbouring the world famous Tsavo East National Park, approximately 270kms from Nairobi and 240kms from Mombasa.

We aim to be the best residential University in East Africa, by offering a wholesome learning experience for our students and faculty. We focus on creating a unique and intentional residential environment that fosters student learning and a strong sense of community. The residential model we believe ensures higher course completion rates, and lowers cost of education for the student by ensuring no commuting expenses and affordable accommodation rates.

We offer programmes in Post graduate, Undergraduate, Diplomas and Certificates levels at our main campus and via ODEL (Online learning). Our Flagship programme is the Dryland Farming (B.Sc. Dryland Agriculture) and other Drylands Focused programmes.  We also offer a variety of academic programmes for the 21st Century learners and run a trimester system of teaching and learning which avails to learners a more flexible approach to completing their studies.

Lukenya University operations are guided by key principles outlined in its Vision, Mission, Philosophy, Core Values and Motto.