Catholic University of Eastern Africa

Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) is a multi-campus private university in Kenya. It is accredited by the Commission for University Education in Kenya.

Catholic University of East Africa founded on 3 September 1984, as a graduate school of theology, under the name the Catholic Higher Institute of Eastern Africa (CHIEA). The institute was founded by the regional ecclesiastical authority known as Association of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa (AMECEA). The institution would be formally opened by Pope John Paul II on 18 August 1985, and in 1986 the Graduate School of Theology would start negotiations with the Commission for Higher Education in Kenya to establish the current University.

In 1989, the institute obtained a "Letter of Interim Authority" as the first step towards its establishment as a private university. After three years of intensive negotiations between the Authority of the Graduate School of Theology (CHIEA) and the Commission for Higher Education, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences was established. The climax of the negotiations was a granting of the Civil Charter to CHIEA on 3 November 1992. This marked the birth of the university as a private institution. The institute rebranded as the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, in 1992.

In 2002, the Faculties of Science and Commerce were established, followed by the Center for Social Justice and Ethics in 2003, the Faculty of Law in 2004, and the School of Continuing Professional Development in 2009. Satellite campuses would also be opened in Eldoret and Kisumu in the same year.[5] In April 2013, the university opened a new campus in I&M Tower, along Kenyatta Avenue, in Nairobi's central business district.

Today, CUEA stands as a beacon of Catholic values and academic excellence, serving not only students but also the wider community through research, outreach, and a commitment to social justice. Its journey, from a humble theological institute to a multi-faceted university, reflects the region's thirst for knowledge and CUEA's dedication to nurturing minds and spirits.

Catholic University of Eastern Africa is ranked as the #10 top university in Kenya during 2025. This is the same rank as last year.