DNK International By Our Education Reporter,Nairobi
Zetech University has emerged as one of Kenya’s fastest growing institutions of higher learning, earning a strong reputation in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and becoming a preferred destination for thousands of students seeking quality education.
Today, with a student population of more than 10,000 enrolled in various academic programmes, the Ruiru-based institution has grown into one of the country’s leading private universities.
Yet, few people know the story of the entrepreneur behind its remarkable rise.
The journey began in the 1990’s when a young engineering student, Kenneth Mbiuki, envisioned sharing the digital and computing skills he had acquired with fellow Kenyans at a time when information technology was still in its infancy.
Born in 1975 in Tharaka Nithi County, Mbiuki studied for a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Nairobi (UoN).
He later earned a Master of Business Administration from the same university.
As information technology gained prominence during the 1990’s, he complemented his engineering training by acquiring computer skills, positioning himself at the forefront of a rapidly growing field.
While still a student at the University of Nairobi in 1997, Mbiuki spotted a business opportunity.
Few institutions offered ICT related courses at the time, yet demand among university students was rising rapidly.
He began conducting informal computer and IT classes in student hostels, attracting a growing number of learners eager to acquire digital skills.
The demand quickly outgrew the hostel setting.
By 1998, he had moved the classes to the University of Nairobi Students Centre, where he taught as many as 300 students.
According to Mbiuki, the venture generated about Sh200,000 per month an impressive income at the time.
Encouraged by the success,Mbiuki told DNK-Intermational that he established Zenith Technology, an IT college located at Summit House opposite Nairobi’s Central Police Station.
A year later, in 1999, he rebranded the institution as Zetech College to appeal to a wider market beyond university students.
As enrolment continued to rise, the college relocated from Summit House to Church House near the August 7 Memorial Park in Nairobi’s central business district.
The institution’s growth continued steadily.
In 2006, Mbiuki opened a new campus in Westlands and entered into a partnership with Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), enabling Zetech students to graduate with JKUAT degrees.
The institution initially focused on programmes such as Information Technology, Business Information Technology, and Business Administration and Management.
As student numbers increased, Zetech expanded its academic offerings beyond ICT to include business, hospitality, community development, mass communication and other disciplines.
The expansion coincided with the Kibaki administration’s efforts to increase access to higher education, creating greater demand for private institutions.
With enrolment growing rapidly, Mbiuki realised the college had the potential to become a fully fledged private university.
However, financing the ambitious project proved challenging.
To fund the dream, he secured a Sh160 million loan from Barclays Bank (now Absa Bank Kenya), which financed the construction of what is now Zetech University’s main campus in Ruiru.
The modern facility was later officially opened by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
In 2018, Zetech attained university status after receiving a Letter of Interim Authority from the Ministry of Education.
The institution reached another milestone on August 2, 2022, when it was awarded a university charter by President Uhuru Kenyatta after meeting all the requirements set by the Commission for University Education.
In the same year, the university opened the Technology Park, Mang’u Campus, in Witeithie, which now serves as the institution’s administrative headquarters.
Today, Engineer Kenneth Mbiuki serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zetech University.
The Board of Trustees is the university’s supreme governing organ and is responsible for appointing members of the University Council, appointing the Chancellor and mobilising resources for the institution’s growth.
Beyond the education sector, Mbiuki has diversified his investments through Finken Holdings Limited and Suntech Power Limited.
Finken Holdings operates in food processing, construction and agrochemicals, while Suntech Power focuses on renewable energy solutions.
The Nairobi based companies have served notable clients, including Sarova Hotels, Safaricom, the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) and the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA).
Mbiuki is the brother of Kareke Mbiuki, the long serving Member of Parliament for Maara Constituency, who has represented the constituency since 2007.
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🗓️ [DNK-International@July 15,2026]
