The week-long range of activities which began on Friday 24th, February, 2023 as the university celebrated its Ten Years anniversary since chartered as a public university on 1st March, 2013, reached its climax on Wednesday 1st March, 2023.
Hon. Ezekiel Machogu, Cabinet Secretary - Ministry of Education, represented the President His Excellency Dr. William Ruto in gracing the occasion. Among those present during this celebration were: the Principal Secretary State Department for University Education and Research, Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, Dr. Erick Mutai, Governor Kericho County and representatives from the County Assembly, KCB and Equity Bank representatives, representatives from Masai Mara, Laikipia and Egerton universities, Belgut Sub-County administration, University's Council, former Council members, staff and students and the community.
In his speech read by the Cabinet Secretary, the President made it clear that, "the government has no plans to privatize public universities". In light of the financial crisis faced by the public universities, the president challenged the learning institutions to be innovative in coming up with various research findings that would end up being commercialized; "this would create employment for our youth" he said.
As part of the celebration, the university hatched its Endowment Fund which will in future assist the needy students and fund research projects. Towards this kitty, over Ksh. 7.5 million was raised with the President's donation of one million, Cabinet Secretaries Hon. Ezekiel Machogu and Hon. Davis Chirichir each Ksh. 500,000, Principal Secretary Dr. Beatrice Inyangala Ksh. 50,000, Dr. Erick Mutai Governor Kericho County Ksh. 600,000, Ministry of ICT donated one hundred desk tops, Kenya Commercial Bank committed to sponsor six students from first to fourth year and buy them laptops, Co-operative Bank Ksh. 200,000, Equity Bank Ksh. 100,000 University Council, staff and students sh. 3.4 million and many others who donated.
Among the major milestones realized during the ten year period are:
- Award of Charter and Commissioning of Lecture Theatre Block Phase I - 2013
- Commissioning of ERP System - 2014
- ISO 9001: 2015 Certification - 2015
- Commissioning of Lecture Theatre Block Phase II and accreditation of Kapkatet Campus - 2016
- Laying of the foundation stone for the University Library - 2017
- Performance Management Award - 2018
- Launch of Fruit and Water Processing Plant - 2019
- Adoption of Blended learning to overcome challenges caused by Covid-19 pandemic
- School of Health Sciences established - 2021
- Lecture Theatre Block Phase IV completed- 2022
- Financial Reporting Award (FiRE Award) – 2022
- Commissioning of Lecture Theatre Block Phase IV - 2023
