The 2027 edition of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, published on 30 September 2026, assigned the University of Nairobi to the 1,601‑1,800 global band, confirming its status as Kenya’s highest‑ranked institution.

Kenyatta University followed in the next band, 1,801‑2,000, making the two universities the only Kenyan schools to receive a specific overall ranking band.

The University of Nairobi’s overall score was reported between 24.2 and 27.1, with individual component scores of 16.0 for teaching, 14.4 for research environment, 40.4 for research quality, 22.5 for industry engagement and 48.2 for international outlook.

Kenyatta University recorded an overall score ranging from 20.4 to 24.1, achieving 13.8 in teaching, 10.3 in research environment, 32.7 in research quality, 17.3 in industry engagement and 54.9 in international outlook.

Other Kenyan institutions appeared in the rankings as “Reporter” entries – listed in the Times Higher Education database but without an overall band – including Kabarak, Karatina, Kibabii, Laikipia, Machakos and Mount Kenya universities.

The 2027 ranking covered 2,297 universities across 118 nations, representing the most extensive survey ever compiled by the publication.

Regionally, Kenya’s top universities trailed South Africa’s University of Cape Town, which moved to a joint 147th global position, while the University of the Witwatersrand placed 301st.