Tharaka University (TU)

Established in 2015 as Tharaka University College, a constituent college of Chuka University, and chartered in 2022, Tharaka University is located in Gatunga, Tharaka-Nithi County. The university serves over 3,500 students across its Main and Marimba Town campuses.

The university operates four faculties including Life Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Education Humanities and Social Sciences, Business Studies, and Physical Science Engineering and Technology. Its semi-arid location supports research in dryland agriculture and natural resource management.

Accredited by CUE and the IUCEA, the university ranks 41st nationally. It is the only public university headquartered in the institution-Nithi County, serving as the primary higher education institution for the communities of Kenya's eastern semi-arid frontier.

Tharaka University's research focuses on agricultural innovation and environmental sustainability within the semi-arid Tharaka region, with ongoing projects in drought-resistant crops, water harvesting, and natural resource management. The Directorate of Research, Publications and Extension, established in 2015, coordinates multidisciplinary research that has enabled faculty to publish in high-impact journals including the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, Journal of Chemistry, and Journal of Mathematics. The Faculty of Life Sciences and Natural Resource Management conducts research on indigenous medicinal plants, crop adaptation to semi-arid conditions, and biodiversity conservation in the Tharaka ecosystem. Partnership with the African Virtual University (AVU) expands open and distance learning access, while collaboration with Chuka University and SEKU strengthens regional research capacity in dryland agriculture. The Faculty of Education advances pedagogical research for marginalised communities. Research output increasingly informs agricultural extension, environmental conservation, and county-level development policy in Tharaka-Nithi, bridging academic inquiry with the practical needs of semi-arid communities.

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.