Africa Nazarene University (ANU) Logo

Africa Nazarene University (ANU) takes pride in its rich history.

ANU is a private Christian university and an institution of the international Church of the Nazarene, whose mission and vision follow the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition. The Church of the Nazarene sought to address the challenges witnessed in African society in the early 1980s through an institution of higher education. Due to the Kenya University’s Act of 1985 – provision for establishment of private universities in Kenya – the Church settled on Kenya as a viable location.

In July 1993, the Church granted approval for the establishment of a university in Africa following a unanimous vote by its members during a General Assembly in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. The Church, through the university’s founders, pursued negotiations with the Commission of University Education, then the Commission of Higher Education (CHE), to establish a degree awarding institution. On 23 November, 1993, the CHE issued, on behalf of the Kenyan Government, a Letter of Interim Authority to lay the foundation and develop the university. ANU became the first Nazarene university outside North America. It was established to prepare both ministerial and lay leaders for the Church.

Situated in the middle of the great Maasai savannah, the physical foundation of the university was laid on 50.181 hectares (124 acres), thus began the actualization of a dream to establish an expansive African Christian university. ANU’s beautiful main campus is located next to Nairobi National Park, off Magadi Road near Ongata Rongai Town, just 24km from Nairobi City Center. It presents a safe, serene environment – ideal for studies.

ANU is proud of its humble beginnings and development since August 1994 when Dr. Martha John, ANU’s first Vice Chancellor, opened the University’s doors to 62 students from eleven African countries taking undergraduate courses in Theology and Business Administration or a Masters of Arts in Religion. One year later, the university introduced the Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, welcoming an additional 42 students.