Private Colleges in Kenya

The Full List of Private Colleges in Kenya - Everything Students Need to Know

Students tell me the hardest part of choosing a college isn’t the application form it’s finding trustworthy, up-to-date information. Below I give you the official sources (so you don’t waste time on fake pages), a curated extraction of notable private colleges, and a practical checklist of everything you must check before you apply.

Quick overview: Two official registers you must use

Commission for University Education (CUE) — the official register for universities and university-level institutions operating in Kenya (public and private). Use CUE to verify that a university is authorised to operate and to see the most current status. imis.cue.or.ke
TVET Authority (TVETA) — the official register for Technical and Vocational Education & Training institutions (certificate, artisan, diploma and other TVET programmes). TVETA’s accredited-institution list is the master source for private colleges that offer TVET programmes. Tveta

Shortcut: don’t rely on third-party “college lists” or random Facebook pages. Start at CUE and TVETA, then follow the official link from there to the college’s own website.

Where to find the full official lists (click these first)

CUE — Accredited universities (searchable portal / register). Use this to check university status and authorized programmes. imis.cue.or.ke
TVETA — Accredited TVET institutions directory (official register of licensed colleges). Tveta

(Links above go to the official government/agency pages — bookmark them. They are the legal reference.)

Curated extraction — notable private colleges (by type) and their official links

Below I extracted a practical starter list from the official registers and linked to the college websites so you can go straight to admissions pages. This is not the exhaustive CUE list (CUE’s register runs into thousands); it’s a verified, useful collection to begin your search.

Private universities (examples from CUE)

Strathmore University — official site & admissions. Strathmore University
United States International University — Africa (USIU-Africa) — official site. USIU-Africa
Daystar University — official site. daystar.ac.ke
Riara University — official site. riarauniversity.ac.ke
KCA University — official site. kcau.ac.ke
Mount Kenya University (MKU) — official site. Mount Kenya University
Zetech University — official site (also runs TVET programmes). zetech.ac.ke
Africa Nazarene University — official site. Africa Nazarene University

Tip: use each university’s official “Admissions” page for application dates, direct fees schedules, and intake deadlines.

Example private TVET / career colleges (TVETA-registered examples)

KIPS Technical College — admissions and programmes (popular for business, IT and technical diplomas). kips.ac.ke
Zetech TVET Centre — large provider of TVET certificates & diplomas (also a university). zetech.ac.ke+1
(For a full, authoritative listing) — consult TVETA’s Accredited Institutions page (contains the full register and filters by county, license status and programme). Tveta

Why I didn’t list every single college here

TVETA’s register contains thousands of entries (including private centres, branches, and many specialised training centres). Listing the entire register would be huge and quickly run out of date. Instead use the TVETA page above to filter by county / programme and export the list you need. I’ll show how in the next section. bellow

How to verify a college fast — step-by-step (do this before you pay anything)

Find the institution on CUE or TVETA first.
- Universities → search the CUE accredited/universities portal. imis.cue.or.ke
- TVET colleges → search TVETA’s accredited institutions list. Tveta
Cross-check the college’s official website. Admissions page, programmes, fees and contact details should match the regulator’s entry.
Look for licence/charter evidence.
- Universities: CUE will indicate whether the university is chartered/authorized.
- TVET: TVETA lists registration number and license validity.
Check recent news & social media only as secondary evidence. Social posts can be helpful, but scams use convincing social media — regulators > social posts. (If the regulator page and the college site disagree, trust the regulator and contact them.)
Ask for a campus visit or video tour. If you can’t visit, ask for a live video tour of the campus and dorms.
Confirm programme accreditation and progression routes. If you want to continue to a degree or work abroad, ask whether the qualification is recognized by employers or professional bodies.

The student checklist — everything to check before you apply

Use this as a printable checklist:

Costs: what to expect (ballpark & practical tips)

TVET certificate / artisan courses: low-to-moderate fees (often KES 10,000–50,000 per term depending on programme and college). Zetech and KIPS publish term fees on their sites — check those pages for exact figures. zetech.ac.ke+1
Private university degrees: wider range — from relatively affordable private universities to higher-fee institutions (fees depend on programme: law/medicine/engineering cost more than arts/business). Always check the university’s published fees schedule.

Money-saving tips:

Ask about payment plans, early-bird discounts, sibling discounts, employer sponsorship and scholarships.
For TVET: short evening or part-time programmes can be cheaper and allow you to earn while you train.

Living & student life — the reality (short, honest takes)

Commuter vs. resident: Many students in Nairobi and other major towns commute; if you’re from outside the city, budget for housing — private hostels near campuses range widely in price and quality.
Food & transport: Plan for daily transport to campus (matatu/ride-share) and food costs; cooking in a shared house is cheaper than eating out.
Safety: Some areas around campuses are safer than others — check local advice and the campus security arrangements.
Social life and networking: Private colleges often have active societies, industry linkages, and flexible intake cycles — useful if you need alternative start dates.

How to use the official pages (step-by-step mini guide)

Using CUE

Open the CUE portal (accredited universities page). imis.cue.or.ke
Search by university name or scan the list for “Private” markers.
Click the university’s entry to confirm the authorized programmes and the university’s legal status.

Using TVETA

Open TVETA’s Accredited Institutions page. Tveta
Use filters to narrow by county, programme type or license status.
Click “Details” on a college entry to view its registration number and license validity — copy that reference for your records.

Final checklist before hitting SUBMIT on your application

Regulator entry copied (CUE/TVETA) ✔️
Official fees, payment plan & refund policy saved ✔️
Accommodation options researched & booked (or shortlist made) ✔️
Contacted the college directly to confirm intake and document list ✔️
Emergency contact & local support sorted (if moving counties) ✔️

Need the complete TVETA list exported for your county or course?

Open the TVETA accredited institutions page and use the filter to choose your county and programme — you can export or copy the filtered list. That’s the most reliable way to get a full, current list for your region. Tveta

Sources & official links (start here)

Commission for University Education (CUE) — Accredited Universities / register (official). imis.cue.or.ke
TVET Authority (TVETA) — Accredited TVET institutions (official). Tveta

Closing - honest advice in one line

Start at CUE and TVETA (the regulators), verify the college’s own site, copy the regulator entry for your files, and only then pay or sign paperwork. That three-step habit will protect you from fake colleges, phantom courses and wasted cash.

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