Umma University is preparing to invest Sh770 million in new student accommodation facilities as the institution expands its infrastructure to meet growing demand for university education in Kenya.
The Islamic faith-based university, located in Kajiado County along the Nairobi-Namanga highway, plans to construct two hostel blocks that will accommodate a combined 316 students. The development is intended to address accommodation shortages that have forced some learners to seek housing outside the main campus.
According to regulatory disclosures, the proposed facilities will include separate residential blocks for male and female students, each providing 158 bed spaces. Both buildings will consist of a ground floor and four additional floors, with supporting amenities designed to improve the student living experience.
The project will incorporate communal areas, laundry facilities, ablution blocks and other essential infrastructure. These facilities are expected to provide a more convenient residential environment while allowing students to remain closer to academic buildings and university services.
The investment comes as Umma University experiences increasing student enrolment, with its population now exceeding 2,000 learners. The institution says the growing demand for accommodation has placed pressure on existing facilities, making additional housing an important part of its development plans.
Currently, some students reside in privately operated accommodation outside the campus. The university has identified this arrangement as a potential security concern, particularly for learners travelling between their residences and academic facilities.
Off-campus accommodation can also increase the financial burden on students through transport expenses and other living costs. By expanding residential capacity, the university hopes to reduce some of these challenges while providing a more secure and accessible learning environment.
The proposed development forms part of a broader infrastructure expansion programme at the institution. Umma University recently commissioned the Dr Abdulrahman Al-Sumait Complex, a Sh1.4 billion, ten-storey facility designed to support teaching, learning and other institutional activities.
President William Ruto attended the commissioning ceremony, highlighting the growing role of private universities in expanding access to higher education.
The university's latest investment reflects a wider challenge facing Kenyan higher education institutions as student populations continue to increase faster than available accommodation.
Across the country, universities are seeking new ways to expand residential facilities, with some turning to private developers and investment partnerships to address housing shortages.
Student accommodation developer Acorn Holdings has become a significant participant in this market through its Qwetu and Qejani brands, which provide purpose-built residential facilities near major universities.
The company has established partnerships involving institutions such as the University of Nairobi, Strathmore University, Daystar University, United States International University-Africa and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Such developments illustrate how student housing is increasingly becoming an important investment segment within Kenya's education sector.
Umma University, however, intends to expand accommodation within its campus, allowing the institution to exercise greater oversight over student welfare and residential services.
The university's growth follows a long institutional history. Established in 1997 as Thika College of Sharia and Islamic Studies, it transitioned into a private university in 2013 before receiving its full charter in 2019.
Since then, the institution has continued developing its academic programmes and physical infrastructure to accommodate a wider student population.
The planned Sh770 million investment represents another significant step in that expansion, although the university has not disclosed a definitive construction completion date.
As student enrolment continues to grow, Umma University's proposed hostels could help address accommodation shortages while strengthening the institution's capacity to provide a safer and more supportive campus environment.
