Education CS Julius Ogamba (right) hands over the Letter of Interim Authority to African Talent University founder Prof. Humphrey Oborah. (Courtesy).
The Government has granted Africa Talent University a Letter of Interim Authority, allowing the Kisumu-based institution to begin training and awarding qualifications as it moves towards full accreditation.
The approval marks a significant step for the university, which is based in Buoye Nyamasaria, Kisumu County, and becomes part of Kenya’s expanding higher education sector as authorities seek to increase access and diversify training opportunities.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba announced the decision on Monday, April 20, during a handover ceremony at the Ministry of Education offices at Jogoo House B in Nairobi.
He said the move aligns with the government’s broader agenda of expanding access to higher education and strengthening training pathways for young people.
“The Government is committed to expanding access to higher education by increasing opportunities for education and training, in addition to providing funding,” Ogamba said.
“This afternoon, at the Ministry’s Jogoo House B offices, I granted a Letter of Interim Authority to the African Talent University. The Letter of Interim Authority now enables the institution to train and award qualifications, while it works towards securing full accreditation.”
The event was attended by Principal Secretary for Higher Education Dr. Beatrice Muganda Inyangala, officials from the Commission for University Education (CUE), and representatives of Africa Talent University.
The Commission will oversee the institution’s progress as it meets the requirements for full accreditation.
Under the interim status, the university is permitted to admit students, offer academic programmes, and award qualifications while undergoing continuous evaluation by regulators.
Africa Talent University is founded on an education model that departs from traditional examination-centred systems.
Its approach, known as Talent Based Learning (TBL), focuses on identifying and developing individual abilities beyond academic grades.
The model integrates biological, psychological, and social dimensions in assessing learners, with emphasis placed on creativity, innovation, leadership, and practical skills.
According to the institution, the goal is to ensure that education systems recognise diverse forms of intelligence and capability.
The university’s vision was developed by Prof. Humphrey Oborah, an educationist and thinker who has long advocated for reforms in how talent is identified and nurtured within formal education systems.
“For many years, I have been concerned that conventional education measures intelligence too narrowly through examinations,” Prof. Oborah has said in previous remarks.
The Africa Talent University main campus in Buoye, Kisumu County, along Nairobi Road. Photo: Courtesy
“We want to make sure that children are not judged by mere grades, that people with innate and pure potentials are also equally accepted and can be seen to be capable.”
The introduction of Africa Talent University into the country’s higher education framework comes at a time when Kenya is seeking to align training institutions with evolving labour market demands and innovation-driven growth.
Policymakers have increasingly encouraged alternative learning approaches aimed at producing graduates with practical and entrepreneurial skills.
The Commission for University Education will continue to monitor the institution’s compliance with academic, infrastructural, and governance standards during the interim period.
Full accreditation will be granted upon successful fulfilment of all regulatory requirements.