CUEA: Amidst the Turbulent Higher Education Sector, CUEA Prioritizes Growth
Bishop Mark Kadima Council Chair for CUEA
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Despite sustained financial pressure in Kenya’s higher-education sector, the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) is moving forward with a clear growth agenda, the University’s Council Chair has said.
In his address during the 44th Graduation Ceremony held on Friday, October 24, Bishop Mark Kadima Wamukoya of Kenya’s Bungoma Diocese highlighted the institution’s commitment to expanding its physical infrastructure and reinforcing academic excellence, even as the sector adapts to a new government funding framework.
“At this time, our University is focusing on growth. We have purchased eight and a half acres of land, and we have commenced a project to construct an ultra-modern block of lecture halls within our Main Campus here in Langata, Nairobi,” The Prelate said and revealed the challenges universities are facing.
These achievements have been met, the Bishop narrated, “despite the current challenging university education sector in Kenya.”
The challenges, according to the university Council Chair, include “The introduction of a new university funding model and the delayed capitation for Government-Sponsored Students over the years by the Government of Kenya, which has led to our delay in reaching certain milestones of our University strategy.”
The funding model is a shift from the previous block‐capitation model, where institutions received funds per student and per course cluster, to the new student-centred funding framework introduced by the government, which allocates funding to individual students based on assessed need.
As CUEA navigates funding challenges, its message remains clear: despite funding model shifts and delays, the institution is “bracing for growth,” grounded in its mission to form ethical leaders and serve society.
The Chair credited the University’s progress to the effective implementation of its 2018–2030 Strategic Plan, which guides CUEA’s efforts toward sustainability, innovation, and academic excellence. He noted that the Council continues to ensure compliance with Kenya’s higher education standards while supporting the University’s drive for continuous improvement.
Beyond infrastructural development, Bishop Kadima pointed out that the University remains dedicated to fostering a conducive environment for innovation and research that addresses societal challenges, saying, “The uniqueness of research and innovation formulated at CUEA lies in its purpose; to provide high-impact solutions to societal problems, bringing about positive change through community service.”
He called on the graduating class of over 3,000 students to carry forward CUEA’s values of integrity, service, and excellence as they step into the professional world, urging them to mentor others and continue supporting the institution’s mission.
“Your success is CUEA’s success,” he told the graduating class, and encouraged them to remain ambassadors of hope and transformation.
