Kenya's first university-owned shopping mall opens its doors

Kenyatta University (KU) has unveiled a state-of-the-art shopping mall.

Speaking during the opening of the shopping mall dubbed UniCity, outgoing KU Vice-Chancellor Olive Mugenda said the facility will give the institution a third revenue stream, besides funding from the Government and the fees paid by students.

The new Kenyatta University UniCity Mall which was opened yesterday by Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i. [PHOTO: KAMAU MAICHUHIE/standard]

"The opening of the UniCity facilities is a realisation of a dream that began seven years ago. This was informed by a need to supplement the university's resources by adopting an entrepreneurial approach in utilisation of resources. Coupled with an innovative zeal, the objective was to augment funding to cater for core areas of teaching and research," Prof Mugenda said.

The newly opened mall, which is the first phase of a three phase project, boasts of close proximity to the busy Thika-Nairobi superhighway and a railway line.

It is also a short distance from the northern and eastern bypasses making it readily accessible to motorists and commuters.

The facility, the first of its kind to be opened by a Kenyan university, is the first in a three phase project that features a hyper-market, retail shops, banks/ATMs, and a National Oil fuel station.

"The new facility will provide a wider range of services from a convenient location and I call on Nairobians to make use of it," she said.

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, who was the chief guest during the opening ceremony, lauded the creative approach in bridging financing gaps to cater for teaching and research at KU.

Dr Matiang'i commended Mugenda for her outstanding leadership which he said had ensured stability and great transformation of the institution over the last ten years.