Prof. Philliph Mutisya of Raleigh, NC, has started the work of Diaspora University at Diaspora University Town (DUT). He aims to have the first class join the university in September 2026. By then, all the requirements to kick off classes will be in place. This will be the first university started by Diaspora Kenyans in Kenya. Ndara B Community and other partners. “Diaspora University will start with three schools: The Engineering School, The School of Business, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship, and The School of Arts, Science, and Technology,” said the Professor.
The Professor and his team are working to complete the documents that will be submitted to the Commission of University Education (CUE) in Kenya as he applies to start the university. He is also progressively implementing all the university plans leading to the university’s opening and the first class on the campus.
Phyllis Kiarie of Troy University in Alabama, USA, joined the professor in the workshop. Phyllis is working closely with Dr. Jackson Waweru of Nairobi to kick off the Business School. The business school will work closely with micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the job creation plans.
Eng. Kiniti, who worked in Kenya Power and Lighting Company, was also present. Prof. Mutisya, when introducing Eng. Kiniti said he is looking to work with him and other Engineers to establish the School of Engineering.
Eng. Jack Njaramba of Nextage Engineering of Nairobi was also present. He is implementing the DUT Design-Build plan, which is estimated to have a budget of Ksh 39.5 billion. The Diaspora University School of Engineering and Project-Based Center will join him in the design-build plan of the Diaspora University Town.
Dr. Lucas Kilemba from Mwatate was introduced as the one establishing the Diaspora University library. He holds a Doctorate in Information and Library Studies. This native of Taita Taveta talked about the system he will be implementing and the benefits the University will bring to Taita Taveta.
Prof. Mjomba Leonard Majalla, who retired from Taita Taveta University, and Dr. Gabriel Ngao, also of Taita Taveta University, were present. Prof. Mutisya invited them to join the university scholars' founding team. About 50 Scholars and 50 staff will open Diaspora University. Thereafter, this number will grow to over 1,000 jobs as the university establishes itself as a research institution.
Diaspora University Trust is developing the Diaspora University. Dan Kamau, the Executive Trustee, said the Trust endowment is currently at Ksh 3.8 billion and will grow to Ksh 20 billion, finance university property, Ksh 5.4 billion, Ksh 600 million to finance MSME start-ups in the town, and Ksh 14 billion to finance students.
140 students every year in the first four intakes will come from the Ndara B Community, 10 from each of the 14 villages. Similarly, 200 students will come from Taita Taveta County in the first four intakes, 10 each from the 20 wards. The rest of the students will come from Kenya and the international market.
To achieve the Master Development Plan, Dan says that as the student population grows to 5,000 in the first four years, 10% or about 500 students will come from the international market. He says the WPI professors, the late Professors Arthur Gerstenfeld and Raphael Njoroge, who founded the university’s system to adopt the WPI approach, laid the foundation for achieving this intake.
The Diaspora University's academic plan aims to increase the number of students obtaining university education and partner with diverse MSMEs, organizations, and governments to advance job creation.
