Exploring opportunities: Join Vihiga County's first chartered university today
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Kaimosi Friends University College, now Kaimosi Friends University, is a public institution in Vihiga County, Kenya. It offers a range of degree, diploma, and certificate programs across its five specialized schools. Tuition varies by school and programme, but government sponsored students only pay about KES 58,500 annually for undergraduate.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Kaimosi Friends University
- Which county is Kaimosi Friends University in?
- Which town is near Kaimosi Friends University?
- Is Kaimosi Friends University a private university?
Key takeaways
- Kaimosi Friends University received its full charter from the Kenyan government in August 2022, becoming Vihiga County's first chartered university.
- KAFU sits in Vihiga County, off the Chavakali-Kapsabet Road, near Shamakhokho and Cheptulu.
- It is a public institution, so government-sponsored students pay significantly less than self-sponsored ones.
- The most popular courses in the university are Bachelor of Education (Arts), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), and Bachelor of Science in IT/Computer Science.
Kaimosi Friends University
Kaimosi Friends University, formerly known as Kaimosi Friends University College (KAFUCO), is a public university in Vihiga County, Kenya. It has Quaker roots. The Religious Society of Friends founded the original institution in the early 1900s. KAFU became a constituent college of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology in 2015.
It received its full university charter on August 2, 2022. This made it the first and only chartered university in Vihiga County. The university now runs five schools. It offers degree, diploma, and certificate programmes.
Kaimosi Friends University courses offered
KAFU is organized into five schools. Each one offers its own set of programmes.
School of Education and Social Sciences (SESS)
- Bachelor of Education (Arts, Science, or French)
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Bachelor of Criminology
- Diploma and certificate options in education and social sciences
School of Health Sciences (SoHS)
- Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Community Health
- Optometry programmes, from bachelor's level up to PhD
- Nursing programmes
School of Computing and Information Technology (SCIT)
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
- Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
- Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Knowledge Management
School of Science
- Bachelor of Science in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Applied Statistics
- Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics and Resource Management
School of Business and Economics
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Science in Economics
- Human Resource Management programmes
Each school also offers diploma courses and certificate options that feed into its degree programmes. You can browse the full list through the KAFU Programme Catalogue on the university website.
Kaimosi Friends University online courses
KAFU runs an e-learning platform for students. You can find it at elearning.kafu.ac.ke. The platform hosts course material for each school. It supports open, distance, and blended learning. This mode suits students who cannot attend classes full time. It also suits working professionals who want to study part time.
Kaimosi Friends University fee structure
KAFU is a public university. This means fees differ a lot depending on how you get admitted. Government-sponsored students apply through KUCCPS. They pay a subsidized tuition rate.
Undergraduate fees KUCCPS
Item | Amount |
Government student contribution | KES 16,000 |
On-campus accommodation (optional) | KES 28,000 |
Medical / Health levy | KES 5,000 |
Activity & sports fee | KES 2,500 |
Library & IT levy | KES 2,000 |
Caution money (once-off, refundable) | KES 5,000 |
Estimated annual total | KES 58,500 |
Postgraduate fees - (Masters & PhD)
Item | Amount |
Masters tuition (SESS / SBE) | KES 72,000 |
Masters tuition (SCIT / SOS) | KES 80,000 |
MBA tuition | KES 85,000 |
PhD tuition | KES 90,000 |
Research levy / Supervision fee | KES 15,000 |
On-campus accommodation (optional) | KES 30,000 |
Library & IT levy | KES 3,000 |
Estimated annual total | KES 128,000 |
A few other things apply across the board.
- Fees are split into tuition, administrative charges, and other charges. Administrative charges include exam fees, medical fees, library fees, and ICT levies. Other charges include industrial attachment and project fees in specific years.
- Accommodation is billed separately. On-campus rooms are typically cheaper than off-campus housing.
- International students from outside East Africa pay a premium on tuition, often around 20% more.
- Fees can change from one academic year to the next, subject to approval by the university council.
Because public university fees update often and depend on your sponsorship type, always confirm the current figure. Check the official Fee Guide on the KAFU website, or log in to the Kaimosi Friends University student portal at portal.kafu.ac.ke, where admitted students can view their exact fee statement.
Kaimosi Friends University admission requirements
Entry requirements at this institution of higher learning depend on the level of study.
- Degree programmes: a minimum KCSE mean grade of C+.
- Diploma programmes: a minimum KCSE mean grade of C-.
- Certificate programmes: a minimum KCSE mean grade of D+, or KCE Division III, or another qualification recognized by the university senate.
- Postgraduate programmes: a relevant bachelor's degree, at second class honours or above, for master's applicants. A relevant master's degree for PhD applicants.
Government-sponsored applicants apply through the KUCCPS portal during the national placement window. All other applicants, including diploma, certificate, and self-sponsored degree students, apply directly through the KAFU Student Portal.
Kaimosi Friends University location
Kaimosi Friends University sits within the Kaimosi Complex in Vihiga County, Western Kenya. The campus is about 500 metres off the Chavakali-Kapsabet Road. It lies between the townships of Shamakhokho and Cheptulu. The Kenyan university is roughly equidistant from Kisumu, Kakamega, and Kapsabet towns, each about 35 kilometres away.
Contacts
- Postal address: P.O Box 385-50309, Kaimosi, Kenya
- Phone: +254 777 373 633
- Email: info@kafu.ac.ke (general), admissions@kafu.ac.ke (admissions), vc@kafu.ac.ke (Vice-Chancellor's office)
- Website: www.kafu.ac.ke
Which county is Kaimosi Friends University in?
Kaimosi Friends University is in Vihiga County, in Western Kenya.
Which town is near Kaimosi Friends University?
The campus sits between Shamakhokho and Cheptulu townships, just off the Chavakali-Kapsabet Road. Kisumu, Kakamega, and Kapsabet are the nearest major towns, each about 35 kilometres away.
Is Kaimosi Friends University a private university?
No. Kaimosi Friends University is a public university. It was founded by the Quaker church and later became a constituent college of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology. It received full public university status in August 2022.
Kaimosi Friends University blends a Quaker heritage with modern academic offerings. Its public status keeps fees accessible for government-sponsored students. Anyone applying should confirm their exact fee bill through the student portal. Reach out to the admissions office directly with any specific questions.
Tuko.co.ke recently published University of Eldoret courses, cluster points & fees structure. Choosing a course starts with knowing your options. The University of Eldoret offers programmes from certificate to PhD level.
Some examples include the undergraduate programs Travel and Tour Operations Management and a recent addition, Agribusiness Management. The university was previously the Chepkoilel campus of Moi University.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Jackline Wangare (Lifestyle writer) Jackline Simwa is a content writer at Tuko.co.ke, where she has worked since mid-2021. She tackles diverse topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. Previously, she worked at The Campanile at Kenyatta University. She has more than five years in writing. Jackline graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (2019) and a Diploma in Marketing (2015) from Kenyatta University. In 2023, Simwa finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques and Google News Initiative course in 2024. Email: simwajackie2022@gmail.com.
Sharon Boit (Lifestyle writer) Sharon J. Boit is a writer and researcher with over 10 years of experience in digital publishing. She writes across lifestyle, entertainment, sports, education, and finance, with work featured on MSN News, Ihamba Adventures, Industry Biz, and Tuko.co.ke. She previously worked as a project manager and researcher at the Center for Urban Research and Innovations, University of Nairobi. She holds a BA in Urban and Regional Planning and is pursuing an MA in Environmental Law. You can reach Sharon J. Boit by email at boit@gmail.com.
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.