Machakos University (MksU)

Tracing its roots to 1957 as Machakos Technical Training Institute, Machakos University was established as a constituent college of JKUAT in 2011 and chartered in 2016. Located in Machakos Town, Machakos County, the university serves over 12,000 students across its Main Campus.

The university operates six schools including Agricultural Sciences Environment and Health Sciences, Business Economics Hospitality and Tourism Management, Education, Engineering and Technology, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Computing and Informatics. Its engineering programmes are EBK-accredited.

Accredited by CUE and EBK, the university ranks 17th nationally. It is the only public university headquartered in Machakos County, serving as the primary higher education institution for the communities of the lower eastern Kenya region.

Machakos University focuses on applied research in agriculture, education, and technology, with growing output in peer-reviewed journals and community-engaged research projects. The School of Agricultural Sciences, Environment and Health Sciences advances research on drought-resistant crops, water harvesting, and sustainable farming practices suited to the semi-arid conditions of Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui counties. The School of Engineering and Technology develops appropriate technologies for agro-processing, renewable energy, and rural infrastructure, building on the university's technical training heritage. Partnership with KIRDI (Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute) connects academic research to industrial application, while collaboration with JKUAT and SEKU strengthens regional research capacity. The School of Education advances pedagogical research, and the School of Business investigates entrepreneurship and value chain development in the eastern Kenya economy. Research output increasingly informs agricultural extension, technical training, and county-level development policy across the lower eastern region.

A C+ mean grade is the minimum for a Bachelor's degree; competitive programmes (medicine, engineering, law, nursing, architecture) require higher grades and specific KCSE subject clusters. Master's programmes require a relevant Bachelor's degree; PhD programmes a relevant Master's degree.