International Leadership University (ILU)

Established in 1980 as the Nairobi International School of Theology, International Leadership University (ILU) was chartered in 2013 as a private Christian university. Located in Nairobi, Kenya, the university serves over 500 students across its Main Campus.

The university operates two schools including Theology and Leadership and Social Sciences. Its programmes focus on developing transformational Christian leaders for church, marketplace, and community engagement across Africa, with a curriculum grounded in biblical principles and practical ministry experience.

Accredited by CUE, ILU ranks 70th nationally. Its specialised focus on Christian leadership formation makes it a key institution for theology and leadership training in Kenya and the broader African context.

ILU focuses on research in biblical values, ethical leadership, and societal transformation, engaging in public lectures and research fairs that connect academic scholarship with African church and society needs. The School of Theology advances research on African theology, biblical interpretation, and the role of Christian leadership in social transformation, while the School of Leadership and Social Sciences investigates ethical governance, organisational leadership, and community development from a biblical perspective. The ILU network — connecting institutions in Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Burundi, and Congo — supports cross-cultural research on African Christianity and leadership challenges. The university's small size enables close faculty-student mentorship and focused research output that directly addresses the leadership crisis in African churches and institutions. Research increasingly informs church policy, leadership training curricula, and ethical governance discourse across the ILU network's pan-African footprint.

A C+ mean grade in KCSE for Bachelor's programmes. Programmes accredited by CUE. Students from over 20 countries.