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Kenya

Top research institutions in Kenya

University of Nairobi ranks first in Kenya on research quality in 2022–2025 (#3,493 worldwide), followed by World Agroforestry Centre and Kenya Medical Research Institute.

Ranked by research quality, 2022–2025

#InstitutionWorld rankTop-10% rateWorksAll time
1University of NairobiUniversity · Nairobi #3,493 12.0% 3,093 #3
2World Agroforestry CentreNonprofit · Nairobi #3,637 30.6% 203 #1
3Kenya Medical Research InstituteResearch facility · Nairobi #3,899 24.1% 708 #2
4Murang'a University of TechnologyUniversity · Murang’a #4,885 14.1% 244 #21
5Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and TechnologyUniversity · Nairobi #5,163 7.8% 2,399 #8
6Kenyatta UniversityUniversity · Nairobi #5,821 8.4% 2,863 #9
7International Livestock Research InstituteResearch facility · Nairobi #6,131 33.9% 311 #5
8Moi UniversityUniversity · Eldoret #7,583 10.7% 1,154 #10
9Egerton UniversityUniversity · Nakuru #7,605 10.5% 807 #13
10International Centre of Insect Physiology and EcologyResearch facility · Nairobi #7,662 33.0% 317 #7
11Kisii UniversityUniversity · Kisii #9,005 11.5% 571 #32
12Technical University of KenyaUniversity · Nairobi #9,223 14.4% 394 #26
13Aga Khan University NairobiUniversity · Nairobi #9,332 20.7% 332 #15
14Kirinyaga UniversityUniversity · Kerugoya #10,468 5.8% 125 #34
15Centers for Disease Control and PreventionGovernment institution · Nairobi #10,581 23.8% 148 #6
16National Museums of KenyaArchive · Nairobi #10,729 22.7% 93 #4
17Strathmore UniversityUniversity · Nairobi #11,017 20.3% 365 #27
18Meru University of Science and TechnologyUniversity · Meru #11,043 7.1% 327 #43
19Ministry of HealthGovernment institution · Nairobi #11,972 26.2% 118 #19
20African Population and Health Research CenterHospital / health system · Nairobi #12,392 31.8% 279 #22
21International Center for Tropical AgricultureNonprofit · Nairobi #12,416 40.4% 111 #12
22United States International University AfricaUniversity · Nairobi #13,372 14.0% 245 #40
23Maseno UniversityUniversity · Kisumu #13,665 9.3% 651 #24
24University of EldoretUniversity · Eldoret #13,896 10.9% 431 #47
25Mount Kenya UniversityUniversity · Thika #13,929 4.7% 1,283 #65
26Masinde Muliro University of Science and TechnologyUniversity · Kakamega #14,289 7.2% 1,052 #62
27Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and TechnologyUniversity · Bondo #14,438 13.0% 429 #45
28Kenya Methodist UniversityUniversity · Nairobi #14,483 3.8% 427 #66
29Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research OrganizationResearch facility · Nairobi #14,513 14.3% 193 #23
30University of EmbuUniversity · Embu #14,605 24.9% 273 #50
31Karatina UniversityUniversity · Nyeri #14,766 9.8% 131 #46
32Dedan Kimathi University of TechnologyUniversity · Nyeri #14,784 8.5% 328 #37
33International Maize and Wheat Improvement CenterNonprofit · Nairobi #14,864 49.5% 81 #16
34Africa International UniversityUniversity · Nairobi #15,285 11.4% 204 #41
35International Institute of Tropical AgricultureNonprofit · Nairobi #15,511 48.2% 60 #25
36Pwani UniversityUniversity · Kilifi #15,588 13.9% 263 #49
37Chuka UniversityUniversity · Chuka #15,613 5.1% 469 #67
38Aga Khan University Hospital NairobiHospital / health system · Nairobi #15,717 10.6% 186 #52
39Machakos UniversityUniversity · Machakos #15,746 12.8% 143 #44
40Kabarak UniversityUniversity · Nakuru #15,923 6.5% 423 #73
41Kenya Forestry Research InstituteResearch facility · Nairobi #16,563 17.3% 63 #36
42Maasai Mara UniversityUniversity · Narok #17,488 8.8% 203 #54
43South Eastern Kenya UniversityUniversity · Kitui #18,190 9.1% 213 #39
44Adventist University of AfricaUniversity · Nairobi #18,352 7.8% 127 #61
45St. Paul's UniversityUniversity · Limuru #18,612 6.7% 358 #64
46Kenyatta National HospitalHospital / health system · Nairobi #18,759 9.8% 179 #20
47United Nations Environment ProgrammeInstitution · Nairobi #18,973 26.8% 75 #18
48Catholic University of Eastern AfricaUniversity · Nairobi #19,659 4.4% 529 #30
49Amref Health AfricaNonprofit · Nairobi #19,744 19.9% 66 #72
50Health Strat (Kenya)Company · Nairobi #19,818 15.5% 115 #58
51Technical University of MombasaUniversity · Mombasa #19,847 14.0% 313 #74
52Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research InstituteResearch facility · Mombasa #20,037 16.5% 131 #71
53Kenya Wildlife ServiceArchive · Nairobi #20,084 18.8% 70 #38
54African Centre for Technology StudiesNonprofit · Nairobi #20,578 20.0% 70 #76
55Pan Africa Christian UniversityUniversity · Nairobi #20,951 10.6% 120 #80
56Rongo UniversityUniversity · Migori #21,274 5.4% 137 #78
57United Nations Human Settlements ProgrammeInstitution · Nairobi #21,297 11.2% 130 #56
58Institute for Security StudiesNonprofit · Nairobi #21,632 16.8% 165 #28
59Kenya Medical Training CollegeUniversity · Nairobi #21,855 6.0% 84 #81
60Kibabii UniversityUniversity · Bungoma #22,090 5.4% 281 #86
61Daystar UniversityUniversity · Nairobi #22,168 6.9% 205 #87
62BirdLife InternationalNonprofit · Nairobi #22,190 9.6% 172 #63
63Save the ElephantsInstitution · Nairobi #22,255 11.0% 60 #70
64University of KabiangaUniversity · Kericho #22,533 6.1% 202 #59
65Kenya School of GovernmentGovernment institution · Nairobi #23,488 6.1% 191 #75
66Kaimosi Friends UniversityUniversity · Kapsabet #23,800 4.3% 144 #82
67Nairobi HospitalHospital / health system · Nairobi #24,197 7.6% 62 #85
68KCA UniversityUniversity · Nairobi #24,394 14.6% 143 #95
69Bomet University CollegeUniversity · Bomet County #24,565 11.9% 65 —
70Laikipia UniversityUniversity · Nyahururu #25,365 6.3% 177 #91
71University of Eastern Africa, BaratonUniversity · Eldoret #25,382 6.4% 81 #90
72Multimedia University of KenyaUniversity · Nairobi #26,284 6.4% 87 #92
73Umma UniversityUniversity · Kajiado #26,508 11.5% 71 #68
74Institute of Economic AffairsInstitution · Nairobi #27,682 3.7% 84 #31
75Africa Nazarene UniversityUniversity · Nairobi #27,885 4.0% 72 #89

Institutions above the volume floor, ranked within Kenya on the quality composite for 2022–2025; research measures only, not teaching. The tick on each rate track is the world’s rate in this record, 16.5% — teal above it, red below; bars are scaled to the largest institution on this page.

Size against quality inside Kenya

The upper left is the interesting corner: institutions that publish less than the national giants and land more of it in the world top 10%.

0%20%40%60%mean 14.072%fractional works (log) →share in the world top 10% →University of Nairobi: 3,093, 12.0%World Agroforestry Centre: 203, 30.6%Kenya Medical Research Institute: 708, 24.1%Murang'a University of Technology: 244, 14.1%Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology: 2,399, 7.8%Kenyatta University: 2,863, 8.4%International Livestock Research Institute: 311, 33.9%Moi University: 1,154, 10.7%Egerton University: 807, 10.5%International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology: 317, 33.0%Kisii University: 571, 11.5%Technical University of Kenya: 394, 14.4%Aga Khan University Nairobi: 332, 20.7%Kirinyaga University: 125, 5.8%Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 148, 23.8%National Museums of Kenya: 93, 22.7%Strathmore University: 365, 20.3%Meru University of Science and Technology: 327, 7.1%Ministry of Health: 118, 26.2%African Population and Health Research Center: 279, 31.8%International Center for Tropical Agriculture: 111, 40.4%United States International University Africa: 245, 14.0%Maseno University: 651, 9.3%University of Eldoret: 431, 10.9%Mount Kenya University: 1,283, 4.7%Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology: 1,052, 7.2%Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology: 429, 13.0%Kenya Methodist University: 427, 3.8%Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization: 193, 14.3%University of Embu: 273, 24.9%Karatina University: 131, 9.8%Dedan Kimathi University of Technology: 328, 8.5%International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center: 81, 49.5%Africa International University: 204, 11.4%International Institute of Tropical Agriculture: 60, 48.2%Pwani University: 263, 13.9%Chuka University: 469, 5.1%Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi: 186, 10.6%Machakos University: 143, 12.8%Kabarak University: 423, 6.5%Kenya Forestry Research Institute: 63, 17.3%Maasai Mara University: 203, 8.8%South Eastern Kenya University: 213, 9.1%Adventist University of Africa: 127, 7.8%St. Paul's University: 358, 6.7%Kenyatta National Hospital: 179, 9.8%United Nations Environment Programme: 75, 26.8%Catholic University of Eastern Africa: 529, 4.4%Amref Health Africa: 66, 19.9%Health Strat (Kenya): 115, 15.5%Technical University of Mombasa: 313, 14.0%Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute: 131, 16.5%Kenya Wildlife Service: 70, 18.8%African Centre for Technology Studies: 70, 20.0%Pan Africa Christian University: 120, 10.6%Rongo University: 137, 5.4%United Nations Human Settlements Programme: 130, 11.2%Institute for Security Studies: 165, 16.8%Kenya Medical Training College: 84, 6.0%Kibabii University: 281, 5.4%Daystar University: 205, 6.9%BirdLife International: 172, 9.6%Save the Elephants: 60, 11.0%University of Kabianga: 202, 6.1%Kenya School of Government: 191, 6.1%Kaimosi Friends University: 144, 4.3%Nairobi Hospital: 62, 7.6%KCA University: 143, 14.6%Bomet University College: 65, 11.9%Laikipia University: 177, 6.3%University of Eastern Africa, Baraton: 81, 6.4%Multimedia University of Kenya: 87, 6.4%Umma University: 71, 11.5%Institute of Economic Affairs: 84, 3.7%Africa Nazarene University: 72, 4.0%World Agroforestry C…Kenya Medical Resear…Murang'a University …University of Nairobi
above the meannear itbelow it

One dot per institution in the table above.