Karatina University
Karatina University (KARU) is a public university chartered in 2013, located 15 km north of Karatina town in Nyeri County, central Kenya. The university sits on the historic site of the Kenya Tea Training Institute, established in 1957 by the Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA) as a tea nursery to train local farmers in tea cultivation. In 2007, the Institute was integrated into Moi University as the Mount Kenya Campus and later renamed Central Kenya Campus. Following growth in student numbers and infrastructure, the campus was elevated to Karatina University College in 2010 and awarded a charter by President Mwai Kibaki in 2013.
KARU lies in a region rich in fertile soils, surrounded by smallholder farms engaged in tea, coffee, horticulture, dairy, poultry, beekeeping, and fish farming. Its proximity to Mount Kenya and other agricultural and ecological resources provides an ideal setting for research, experiential learning, and community engagement.
The School of Agriculture and Biotechnology offers undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and certificate programs across Crop Science, Food Science and Nutrition, Agricultural Resource Economics and Management, and Agricultural Extension and Rural Development. Students gain practical experience through university farms, laboratories, and engagement with local farmers, preparing them to be innovative agripreneurs, researchers, and policy influencers.
Through strategic partnerships with research institutions, agribusinesses, and NGOs, KARU contributes to sustainable agriculture, value chain development, and food security. With its practical, research-driven, and market-oriented approach, Karatina University is a regional hub for agricultural excellence, producing skilled graduates ready to address national and global agricultural challenges.
Additionally, the university emphasizes outreach programs that bridge research and practice. Through farmer workshops, demonstration plots, and advisory services, it helps communities adopt improved techniques, enhance productivity, and access markets. These initiatives also encourage youth engagement in agribusiness and entrepreneurship.
By partnering with government agencies, NGOs, and private-sector stakeholders, Karatina University strengthens agricultural value chains and fosters innovation. Through its combination of education, applied research, and community engagement, the university contributes significantly to sustainable agricultural development and economic growth in Central Kenya.