Strathmore University has emerged as the biggest mover in the latest national university rankings, surpassing both Kenyatta University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology (JKUAT) to claim second place among Kenya’s top institutions of higher learning.
According to the latest UniRank report obtained by Vantage Ke, the University of Nairobi (UoN) maintained its position as Kenya’s leading university, topping a list that featured more than 60 accredited institutions across the country.
The rankings show a significant reshuffle among Kenya’s top universities, with Strathmore moving up to second place while Kenyatta University slipped to third. Mount Kenya University secured fourth position, while JKUAT rounded out the top five.
Strathmore’s ascent represents one of the most striking developments in the 2026 rankings and highlights growing competition among the country’s leading universities as they battle for academic prestige, student enrolment and international recognition.
UniRank evaluated 69 accredited universities and higher learning institutions in Kenya. The assessment was based on several indicators, including institutional popularity, online presence and academic visibility.
Beyond the top five, United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa) was ranked sixth nationally. Moi University followed closely in seventh position, while Egerton University secured eighth place.
The Technical University of Kenya (TUK) claimed the ninth spot, with Kenya Methodist University completing the top ten.
Further down the rankings, Catholic University was placed eleventh, ahead of KCA University in twelfth position. Murang’a University ranked thirteenth, while Maseno University and the University of Embu occupied the fourteenth and fifteenth positions respectively.
Daystar University and Pwani University followed in sixteenth and seventeenth place, continuing their presence among the country’s highest-ranked institutions.
Universities placed between eighteenth and twenty-fifth positions included Zetech University, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Tangaza University, Kabarak University, Chuka University, Kisii University, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology and Africa Nazarene University.
Other institutions that featured prominently in the middle tier of the rankings were Kirinyaga University, the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton, Kibabii University and the Technical University of Mombasa.
UniRank noted that only institutions meeting specific criteria were considered for inclusion in the rankings.
According to the organisation, eligible universities must be chartered or officially accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), offer recognised degree programmes and provide courses through traditional face-to-face learning.
“UniRank said the rankings cover universities that are chartered and accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), offer degree programmes and conduct courses through in-person learning.”
The latest results come at a time when universities across Kenya are facing increasing pressure to strengthen their reputations and attract more students amid changing trends in higher education.
Competition among institutions has intensified as universities seek to boost research output, improve their digital visibility and secure partnerships with international academic organisations.
Institutional reputation has also become a key factor influencing student choices, particularly as learners increasingly compare universities based on rankings, employability outcomes and academic performance.
The 2026 rankings therefore offer a snapshot of how Kenyan universities are positioning themselves in a rapidly evolving higher education landscape, with Strathmore’s rise and the continued dominance of the University of Nairobi standing out as the biggest takeaways from this year’s assessment.
