TATU Founder, Prof Oborah During the Press Briefing on Thursday, April 30.
The African Talent University (TATU) has received an Interim Charter from the Government of Kenya, allowing it to begin operations as it works toward full accreditation.
Speaking during a press briefing at the institution’s campus in Kisumu, founder Prof. Humphrey Oborah said the milestone marks the end of a 20-year effort to establish a university focused on talent and practical skills.
“This recognition affirms a bold new model of higher education—one that places talent, not just grades, at the center of learning, innovation, and human development,” Prof. Oborah said.
The charter, issued through a Letter of Interim Authority by the Ministry of Education, enables the university to admit students and roll out its academic programmes.
“The Interim Charter is not just an institutional approval—it is validation of a new direction in education,” he added.
Prof. Oborah said the approval reflects confidence in a model that seeks to address gaps in the current education system, particularly under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
“TATU is designed to produce not just graduates who describe problems—but individuals who solve them,” he stated.
TATU is set to admit its first intake in May 2026. According to the university, students will be considered based on talent, prior work experience, and academic qualifications, a move expected to expand access to higher education.
“We are opening our doors to every young person who knows they have something special—whether recognized by exams or not,” Prof. Oborah said.
The university also announced plans to work with the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) to enable eligible students access funding.
Officials said the fee structure has been set lower than that of many private universities to improve affordability.
The Africa Talent University main campus in Buoye, Kisumu County, along Nairobi Road. Photo: Courtesy
The main campus is located in Kisumu, with plans to establish learning centres in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, and Meru.
Education stakeholders have in recent years raised concerns about the link between training and employment, especially as youth unemployment remains high.
“This is not the end of a journey. It is the beginning of an education revolution,” Prof. Oborah said.