The Kenya Polytechnic Univesity College
In 2005, the Government of Kenya launched the Sessional Paper No. 1 A Policy Framework for Education, Training, and Research. The Sessional Paper provided for upgrading of national polytechnics to offer degree programmes in their areas of expertise. The upgrading was under the special provison that the polytechnics would however continue to offer their traditional tertiary programmes. Thus, the polytechnics were to continue offering education and training at the Diploma level and to continue with the training of middle level manpower. The Sessional Paper, in particular, provided for educational and training path for candidates who have developed through the Technical, and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme. Within this framework, the polytechnics would be expected to provide leadership in the TVET and acts as the apex of technical and vocational education and training.
The process of upgrading the Polytechnic was initiated by the Ministry of Education immediately after the launch of the Sessional Paper in 2005. The Ministry formed a committee to oversee this process. After much consideration, it was decided that the best way forward in establishment of the institution as a degree awarding institution was through the establishment of the institution as a university college. It was further decided that as a university college, the institution will be a constituent college of the University of Nairobi. On 23rd August 2007, the President of the Republic of Kenya signed the Kenya Polytechnic University College Legal Order thereby formally establishing the Kenya Polytechnic University College as a constituent college of the University of Nairobi. Although the college was established with effect from August 2007, it did not begin to function as a university college until November 2008 when the Principal for the University College had been appointed.
In July 2009, the university college had the first batch of the programmes of study approved by Senate at the University of Nairobi. The curricula are in the areas of electrical and electronic engineering and comprise the Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng.) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology, and the Diploma in Technology (Dip. Tech.) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. The programmes are designed to cover to cover respectively five, four, and three years of study for the B.Eng., B.Tech., and Dip. Tech. The first cohort of degree students joined the college in January 2009 and a section of whom has since satisfied the Board of Examiners and has been recommended for conferment of their respective degrees in the convocation of 2011.
The first cohort of degree students joined the college in January 2009 to study for programmes approved by the University of Nairobi Senate in the following areas: The curricula were in the area of electrical and electronic engineering and comprised the Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology and the Diploma in Technology (Dip. Tech.) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology. The programmes were designed to cover respectively five, four and three years of study for B.Eng., B.Tech., and Dip. Tech.