OPEN UNIVERSITY OF KENYA EXPLORES COLLABORATIONS WITH KAJIADO COUNTY

Latest News / October 06, 2025

The Open University of Kenya (OUK) is seeking to strengthen ties with Kajiado County Government through strategic collaborations aimed at expanding access to higher education and enhancing community development.

A delegation led by Vice Chancellor, Prof. Elijah Omwenga, paid a courtesy call to the County  Governor, H.E Joseph Ole Lenku. The discussions focused on forging partnerships in key areas including health, capacity building, cultural heritage and digital empowerment.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Elijah Omwenga (L) share pleasantries with the Governor, H.E Joseph Ole Lenku (Right).

Among the proposed areas of collaboration is access to County health facilities to support the upcoming Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programme. Prof. Omwenga said that integrating County health facilities into the University’s academic programmes will not only create practical learning opportunities for students but also boost the quality of healthcare services available to residents.

The Vice Chancellor also emphasized the importance of building the capacity of County staff through continuous training and upskilling. This initiative, they noted, would align with the County’s development agenda while promoting professional growth among public servants.

In recognition of Kajiado’s rich cultural heritage, the University expressed interest in participating in the Maa Cultural Week which is coming up in November, 2025. Prof. Omwenga said OUK would collaborate with the County to celebrate and document the cultural practices of the Maasai community as part of preserving Kenya’s diverse traditions.

From left: Prof. Sammy Mutisya (Lecturer, OUK), Elizabeth Kalekye (Programs Manager, OUK), Prof. Elijah Omwenga (Vice Chancellor), H.E. Joseph Ole Lenku (Governor, Kajiado County), Martin Moshisho (Deputy Governor, Kajiado County) and Kantim Mwanik.

Additionally, the discussions highlighted the potential of leveraging the County’s digital hubs as OUK resource centres. By tapping into existing infrastructure, the University aims to bring digital learning closer to communities, enabling more residents to access affordable and flexible education.

Governor Lenku welcomed the partnership, noting that it would not only benefit students but also strengthen service delivery and cultural pride within the County. He pledged his administration’s support to ensure the initiatives are successfully rolled out.

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The Open University of Kenya (OUK) is a virtual learning institution deeply committed to advancing education and driving socio-economic growth within Kenya and beyond. Access to higher education has remained a major challenge in Kenya and this has disadvantaged citizens who seek to improve their knowledge, upscale skills and for posterity. Experts have noted that increasing the number of educational institutions so as to match the rate of population growth is an extremely difficult if not impossible solution especially when financial and other resource constraints are considered. Open and Distance Learning approaches, coupled with innovative ICT solutions, have proofed viable alternatives to providing excellent education to millions of people located wherever and whenever by different life circumstances.