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Nairobi · KenyaFree to read
Specialised Public University

National Defence University - Kenya (NDU-K)

Kenya's first defence and security university in Lanet, training military officers and strategic leaders.

County
Nairobi
Established
2021
Students
2,500
Employment rate
90%

The institution

Who they are, how big, and how they rank.

About

Chartered on 27th May 2021 by President Uhuru Kenyatta, the National Defence University - Kenya (NDU-K) is Kenya's first specialised university of strategic national importance. The University Seat is located in Lanet, Nakuru County, with campuses including the National Defence College (Karen, Nairobi), International Peace Support Training College (IPSTC), Joint Command and Staff College (JCSC), Kenya Military Academy (KMA), and Defence College of Health Sciences (DCHS).

The university operates seven colleges serving over 2,500 students, including both military officers and senior civil servants from Kenya and allied countries including Burundi, Malawi, Nepal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Programmes focus on defence, security, and strategic studies.

Accredited by CUE and the Kenya Ministry of Defence, NDUthe institutionK ranks 64th nationally. It aspires to be a think tank and policy institute for government, producing strategic research that shapes national security discourse in Kenya and the broader region.

The numbers

Annual fees
Ksh 150,000 to Ksh 500,000
Student to staff
15:1
Mode of study
Full-time, Part-time, Distance Learning
Charter status
Chartered
Chartered
2021
Scholarships
None recorded

Research

Ndu k's research is focused on defence, security, and strategic studies, conducting research on regional peacekeeping, counterterrorism, and military technology that directly informs kenya's national security policy. the university's research, innovation and security studies directorate coordinates research across its seven colleges, with the national defence college producing strategic research on geopolitics, security strategy, and national defence policy. the international peace support training college (ipstc) conducts research on peace support operations, conflict resolution, and regional security in the east african community and the horn of africa. partnerships with the us army war college, the uk royal college of defence studies, the china national defence university, and india's national defence college support collaborative research on international security, military strategy, and defence diplomacy. the simulation centre provides a practical research environment for military operations and strategic gaming. ndu k aspires to be a think tank and policy institute for government, producing strategic research that shapes national security discourse and policy in kenya and the broader region.

Accredited by

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)
  • Kenya Ministry of Defence

What they teach

Faculties, departments and the programmes on offer.

Intakes

  • January
  • September

Schools and faculties

7 in total
  • National Defence College (NDC)

    Karen Campus, Nairobi

  • International Peace Support Training College (IPSTC)

    Embakasi, Nairobi

  • Joint Command and Staff College (JCSC)

    Karen, Nairobi

  • Kenya Military Academy (KMA)

    Lanet, Nakuru

  • Defence College of Health Sciences (DCHS)

    Kahawa, Nairobi

  • Defence Forces Technical College (DEFTEC)

    Thika Road, Nairobi

  • Defence Intelligence Academy (DIA)

    Nairobi

Campus and beyond

Where you would be, and who they are connected to.

Campuses

Main campus
Defence Staff College, Lanet, Nakuru
  • University Seat (Lanet)

    Nakuru

    Lanet, Nakuru County

  • Karen Campus (NDC)

    Nairobi

    Karen, Nairobi

  • International Peace Support Training College (IPSTC)

    Nairobi

    Embakasi, Nairobi

  • Joint Command and Staff College (JCSC)

    Nairobi

    Karen, Nairobi

  • Kenya Military Academy (KMA)

    Nakuru

    Lanet, Nakuru

  • Defence College of Health Sciences (DCHS)

    Nairobi

    Kahawa, Nairobi

  • Defence Forces Technical College (DEFTEC)

    Nairobi

    Thika Road, Nairobi

  • Defence Intelligence Academy (DIA)

    Nairobi

    Nairobi

On campus

  • Library
  • Conference Centre
  • Research Facilities
  • Simulation Centre
  • Lecture Halls
  • Officers Mess

Notable alumni

  • Military officers and defence strategists from Kenya
  • Security and international relations professionals

International partnerships

4 institutions
  • National Defence College (India)
  • US Army War College
  • China National Defence University
  • UK Royal College of Defence Studies

Further reading

Keep this

Entry marks, intakes and fees at National Defence University - Kenya are restated each year. Save it and the app keeps this version, so you can see what changed when it does.