Former senior presidential advisor Moses Kuria has written to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba proposing the renaming of the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) to Raila Odinga Technical University. Kuria said the move would honour Raila Odinga’s contribution to engineering and his passion for technical education.
“I have today written to Education CS Julius Ogamba requesting to rename the Technical University of Kenya to Raila Odinga Technical University,” Kuria stated, adding, “If I were CS, I would do it straight away.”
Kuria noted that TUK’s origins trace back to the University of Nairobi (UoN), where Raila once lectured in the School of Engineering. The institution later became the Kenya Polytechnic before gaining university status as TUK.
According to Kuria, the renaming would be a fitting tribute to Raila’s long-standing advocacy for technical and vocational education. “Engineer Raila Odinga was not just a lecturer at the UoN School of Engineering. He was an ardent believer in technical education since his days at Madelberg College in Germany,” Kuria explained.
Legal Process for Renaming TUK
The proposal would follow the Universities Act, 2012, the TUK Charter, 2013, and the Constitution of Kenya (2010). Any name change requires public participation and input from key stakeholders, including the University Council, Senate, students, staff unions, CUE, and the public.
Once consultations are complete, the University Council would submit its recommendation to the Commission for University Education (CUE) and the Education CS, who would then forward it to the President for approval. The new name would only take effect once gazetted and an amended Charter is issued.
If approved, Raila Odinga Technical University would officially replace TUK, marking a significant moment in honouring one of Kenya’s most prominent political and academic figures.
