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³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ has been ranked in the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, achieving an overall score of 62.3 out of 100, a milestone that underscores the institution’s deepening commitment to sustainable development, equity, and global partnership. Notably, KU is among a distinguished cohort of universities that participated in all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, a feat that reflects not incremental compliance, but institutional conviction.

The THE Impact Rankings are the world’s only global performance tables assessing universities against the UN’s SDGs, drawing participation from institutions across more than 100 countries. Being ranked against this framework places ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ in dialogue with the most purposeful universities on the planet, those that measure their value not only by academic output, but by real-world impact.

Top-Performing SDGs: Where KU Shines

³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ’s strongest performances came in SDGs that sit at the very heart of its academic and civic mission. SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities was KU’s highest-ranking goal, with a score of 73.9 placing the university in the 101–200 band globally out of 932 participating institutions. This is a powerful signal — in a country where inequality remains a persistent development challenge, KU is demonstrating that higher education can be a genuine force for social equity.

Close behind is SDG 4 – Quality Education, where KU scored 66.8 and ranked in the 201–300 band among 1,335 institutions — the most competitive field in the entire rankings. That KU holds its own in this category, against universities from across the globe, speaks directly to its mandate as Kenya’s leading national university.

SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions returned a score of 62.7 (rank 201–300 out of 914), reflecting KU’s role in nurturing civic-minded graduates and supporting governance, legal awareness, and institutional integrity within the Kenyan higher education system.

SDG 1 – No Poverty, KU’s top-ranked goal overall, scored 56.2 and placed in the 301–400 band among 931 institutions — positioning the university among global institutions actively addressing poverty through research, community programmes, and accessible education.

SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals completed KU’s top five, with a score of 53.8 in the 601–800 band among a highly competitive 1,610 institutions — the single largest participating pool in the rankings — underscoring the university’s active engagement in cross-sector and international collaboration.

SDG Goal	Score	Global Rank
SDG 1 – No Poverty	56.2	301–400 / 931
SDG 4 – Quality Education	66.8	201–300 / 1,335
SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities	73.9	101–200 / 932
SDG 16 – Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions	62.7	201–300 / 914
SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals	53.8	601–800 / 1,610

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Across All 17 Goals: A Statement of Intent

Beyond the headline SDGs, KU recorded scores between 30 and 50 across the remaining twelve goals — covering SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

These scores represent active participation and documented evidence across every goal, not the absence of effort, but the beginning of a trajectory. Many of the world’s highest-ranked universities began exactly where KU stands today. What distinguishes KU is the breadth: participating in all 17 SDGs places the university in an elite category, signaling to partners, funders, governments, and students alike that this is an institution with a comprehensive vision for the future.

Impact in the Now, and a Foundation for the Future

Kenya’s Vision 2030 calls for a knowledge-based economy anchored in innovation, equity, and global competitiveness. ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ’s presence in the THE Impact Rankings is more than a ranking achievement, it is evidence that the university is already living that vision. From reducing inequalities and delivering quality education, to fostering strong institutions and advancing inclusive partnerships, KU is contributing tangible, measurable value to Kenya, to Africa, and to the global SDG agenda.

This is a university that does not simply respond to the times — it shapes them.

Explore the full THE Impact Rankings at:

Full methodology is available via the DataPoints platform.

#THEunirankingsÌý #THEImpact26

³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ Webometrics Ranking

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Date	World Rank	Africa Rank	Country Rank
January 2007	7354	82	7
August 2007	Out of Rank	Out of Rank	Out of Rank
January 2008	Out of Rank	Out of Rank	Out of Rank
August 2008	8855	94	5
January 2009	7993	84	5
August 2009	9129	100	5
January 2010	7189	74	4
July 2010	6464	80	4
January 2011	5129	51	3
July 2011	4803	58	3
January 2012	3034	45	3
July 2012	2454	30	2
January 2013	1706	19	2
July 2013	3489	53	3
January 2014	2907	34	2
July 2014	1983	22	2
January 2015	2491	38	2
July 2015	2431	44	3
January 2016	1915	30	2
July 2016	1931	29	2
January 2017	2022	31	4
July 2017	2534	51	3
January 2018	1707	24	3
July 2018	1450	19	2
January 2019	1598	22	2
July 2019	1561	23	2
January 2020	1674	23	2
July 2020	1674	28	2
January 2021	1913	40	3
July 2021	1913	44	2
January 2022	2259	51	2
July 2022	2151	52	2
January 2023	2049	54	2
July 2023	2133	59	2
January 2024	2168	61	3
July 2024	2122	55	2
January 2025	2121	54	2
July 2025	1477	73	2
January 2026	1923	45	2

³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ Webometrics Component Rankings (2012–2026)

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Metric	July 2012	Jan 2013	July 2013	Jan 2014	July 2014	Jan 2015	July 2015	Jan 2016	July 2016	Jan 2017	July 2017	Jan 2018	July 2018	Jan 2019	July 2019	Jan 2020	July 2020	Jan 2021	July 2021	Jan 2022	July 2022	Jan 2023	July 2023	Jan 2024	July 2024	Jan 2025	July 2025	Jan 2026
Presence	304	711	381	1900	993	891	397	538	1227	500	499	78	164	765	589	312	258	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Impact	6518	5586	6339	6475	5874	6422	5520	2634	2765	3029	3028	1445	972	1009	1030	1438	1590	1675	1950	2019	2041	1984	2084	2183	2277	2267	2254	2276
Openness	3702	380	2536	2101	299	2515	3929	1191	1357	1340	1339	1237	1360	1407	1482	1482	1348	1192	1351	1425	1490	1376	1494	1473	1496	1497	1506Ìý	1482
Excellence	2259	2261	2369	2388	2484	2477	2787	2680	2848	2829	2829	2710	2724	2765	2790	2783	2988	3205	3210	3653	3345	3310	3258	3256	3182	3183	3063	3078