Strathmore University is a chartered university based in Nairobi, Kenya
Strathmore College was started in 1961, as the first multi-racial, multi-religious advanced-level sixth form college offering science and arts subjects, by a group of professionals who formed a charitable educational trust. Saint Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei, inspired and encouraged them to start the college. It is a Catholic university. Strathmore has a particularly successful accounting program: 60% of the CPA finalists in Kenya come from it in the past ten years, dating back from 2007. The current Vice-Chancellor of the University is Professor John Odhiambo.
History
In March 1966, the first intake of Accountancy students, twenty-five in number, joined the Sixth-form students and began preparing for the examinations of the UK-based Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. These first Accountancy students were sponsored by Shell East Africa, British American Tobacco Kenya and the East African Breweries. At this time Strathmore College was unique as a fully integrated post-Form 4 institution offering both academic and professional courses. In October 1982, the college began evening courses in Accountancy after normal working hours, with 60 students sponsored by various companies. In 1986, in response to a request by the Trustees, the government of Kenya donated of land on Ole Sangale Road, Madaraka Estate. The European Union and the Italian government agreed to back the Madaraka Campus project. The donors wanted to support a co-educational college that would offer courses in Management and Accountancy, Kianda College, an undertaking of Kianda Foundation, which was planning new developments at the time. Derrick Mureithi agreed to run their professional courses in the new Madaraka campus. Construction of the new campus commenced in September 1989. In January 1991, the Information Technology Centre was started in the Lavington, Nairobi Campus to run computer courses leading to the Institute for the Management of Information Systems Diploma and Higher Diploma. In January 1992 a Distance Learning Centre was opened to offer correspondence courses in Accountancy to students who are unable to attend lectures. In January 1993, Strathmore College merged with Kianda College and moved to Ole Sangale Road, Madaraka Estate. In August 2002, the Commission of Higher Education awarded Strathmore a Letter of Interim Authority to operate as a University with a Faculty of Commerce and a Faculty of Information Technology. In 2008, Strathmore was awarded a charter to become a fully-fledged university. It also has since established Strathmore Business School, with academic linkage to various top business schools, including IESE and Harvard Business School.
Strathmore University Foundation
Strathmore University Foundation is incorporated under Kenyan laws as a not for profit companylimited by guarantee and having no share capital. It is wholly owned by Strathmore University and is entirely dedicated to raising funds to support university initiatives. The foundation is governed by a board of directors composed of persons of good standing in society. This board is appointed with the recommendation of the University Council and the University Management Board.
Strathmore Alumni Relations Office
The Strathmore Alumni Relations Office is an international alumni office established in Kenya with the support of Strathmore University Foundation to promote and support alumni linkages and activities worldwide. The office is responsible for maintaining the links of alumni with the university.
