How to Verify a Kenyan University or Program Is Accredited by CUE

Why CUE accreditation matters

The Commission for University Education is Kenya's regulator for university education, established under the Universities Act. Section 28(4) of the Act requires CUE to publish a list of universities accredited to offer university education in Kenya, covering public universities, chartered private universities, and institutions holding a letter of interim authority while their charter application is under review.

A university's authorization to operate does not automatically mean every degree program it markets carries CUE approval. Check both levels before you apply or pay any fees.

Step 1: Check the Status of Universities list

Go to CUE's Status of Universities page on cue.or.ke. CUE reported 79 universities and constituent colleges legally operating in Kenya as of March 2025 , including public universities and 28 private chartered universities such as Strathmore University, Daystar University, the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, and United States International University Africa. Match the exact institution name against this list, since names of unaccredited operators sometimes closely resemble chartered universities.

Institutions holding only a letter of interim authority are not yet fully chartered. They can legally admit students under CUE oversight, but their status carries more conditions than a full charter, so ask the institution directly which category it falls under.

Step 2: Check the accredited programmes register

CUE separately publishes a register of academic programs approved for Kenyan university-level institutions, covering certificates, diplomas, postgraduate diplomas, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Download the current version from CUE's accreditation section on cue.or.ke and search for your intended program by institution and title. Note the date printed on the document, since CUE updates this register as new programs pass through its accreditation process and existing ones come up for renewal.

If your specific program does not appear in the current register, ask the university's admissions office for their CUE approval letter and the date it was issued before you commit to enrolling.

Red flags to watch for

• An institution not listed on CUE's Status of Universities page, or listed under a different legal name

• A program the admissions office cannot match to an entry in CUE's accredited programmes register

• Marketing that describes a program as pending approval while treating it as already accredited

• Campuses or study centres operating in locations not listed against the institution's CUE record

If you are unsure

Contact CUE directly through the contact details on cue.or.ke rather than relying only on what a university's admissions staff tell you. Ask for written confirmation of both the institution's status and the specific program's accreditation before you pay any fees.