Umma University is the first

Islamic Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God (or '' Allah'') as it was revealed to Muhammad, the ma ...

institution of

higher education Higher education is tertiary education leading to award of an academic degree. Higher education, also called post-secondary education, third-level or tertiary education, is an optional final stage of formal learning that occurs after compl ...

Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

, offering

certificate Certificate may refer to: * Birth certificate * Marriage certificate * Death certificate * Gift certificate * Certificate of authenticity, a document or seal certifying the authenticity of something * Certificate of deposit, or CD, a financial pro ...

diploma A diploma is a document awarded by an educational institution (such as a college or university) testifying the recipient has graduated by successfully completing their courses of studies. Historically, it has also referred to a charter or offici ...

, degree and

postgraduate Postgraduate or graduate education refers to academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate ( bachelor's) degree. The organization and ...

studies. Umma University was founded in 1997. The main campus is located in

Kajiado County Kajiado County is a county in the former Rift Valley Province of Kenya. As of 2019, Kajiado county spanned an area of 21,292.7 km2, with a recorded population of 1,117,840. The county borders Nairobi and to its south it borders the Tanza ...

. Other branch is located in Thika-Makongeni off Garissa road. Umma University is the brainchild of Africa Muslim Agency (currently known as Direct Aid International), a non-governmental organization which was founded by a

Kuwait Kuwait (; ar, الكويت ', or ), officially the State of Kuwait ( ar, دولة الكويت '), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to Iraq–Ku ...

medical doctor, Abdulrahman Al-Sumait. It was founded in the year 1998 as Thika College for Sharia and Islamic Studies and was registered under Ministry of Education in the year 2001, and subsequently authorized to offer Diploma programmes in Islamic Sharia and Islamic Studies. In 2007, Thika College for Sharia and Islamic Studies applied to the then Commission for Higher Education (currently known as Commission for University Education) for validation of its programmes in Islamic Sharia and Studies. The commission validated the programmes upon visitation and inspection of its facilities, in accordance with the Universities Rules 2004 and the Universities Act, Cap, 210B, Laws of Kenya. The programmes validation paved way for the college to apply to Commission for Higher Education for grant of authority to collaborate with the

International University of Africa The International University of Africa ( ar, جامعة افريقيا العالمية) is a private university in Khartoum, Sudan. It is a member of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World. The university has faculties of Educat ...

Khartoum Khartoum or Khartum ( ; ar, الخرطوم, Al-Khurṭūm, din, Kaartuɔ̈m) is the capital of Sudan. With a population of 5,274,321, its metropolitan area is the largest in Sudan. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile, flowing n ...

Sudan Sudan ( or ; ar, السودان, as-Sūdān, officially the Republic of the Sudan ( ar, جمهورية السودان, link=no, Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān), is a country in Northeast Africa. It shares borders with the Central African Republic t ...

to offer two degree programmes namely; Bachelors of Arts in Islamic Sharia and Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies. The running of the two degree programmes under the collaboration with the International University of Africa has been a good experience for the college . With the experience gained from offering the two programmes, the sponsor felt that it is the right time to establish a university. The university was awarded Letter of Interim Authority in the year 2013. On 18 October 2019, President

Uhuru Kenyatta Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta (born 26 October 1961) is a Kenyan politician who served as the fourth president of Kenya from 2013 to 2022. Kenyatta was chosen by Daniel Arap Moi as his preferred successor, but Kenyatta was defeated by opposition le ...

awarded charter to Umma University after the institution met the ministry of education requirements. The university was also presented with the mace, logo, seal and two volumes of accreditation reports at a ceremony held in State House, Mombasa. The university is fully established and has officially launched all its approved, quality and diverse programmes to contribute to national development. Currently the university offers additional courses in Computer Science, Business Management, Information Technology, Nursing and Islamic Banking and Finance. The university is also offering two postgraduate programmes namely Master of Business Administration and master's degree in Islamic studies. The institution is planning to roll out several postgraduate and undergraduate programmes in the near future .

References

External links

* Universities in Kenya Islam in Kenya Islamic universities and colleges Educational institutions established in 1997 1997 establishments in Kenya {{Kenya-university-stub