Universities by Research h-index in Kenya
Universities and colleges ranked by OpenAlex's institutional h-index, which combines publication volume and citation impact. This is a research metric, not a measure of teaching quality. OpenAlex is an open scholarly index; larger and older institutions tend to have more indexed research.
1University of Nairobi28,820 works
274
2Moi University8,408 works
169
3Kenyatta University12,787 works
143
4Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology15,074 works
135
5Egerton University5,854 works
131
6Aga Khan University Nairobi3,121 works
112
7Maseno University4,354 works
102
8Strathmore University2,772 works
70
9Pwani University2,191 works
69
10University of Eldoret2,504 works
68
11University of Embu1,380 works
68
12Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology2,074 works
62
13Technical University of Kenya2,544 works
62
14South Eastern Kenya University1,311 works
59
15Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology3,457 works
58
16Maasai Mara University988 works
54
17Pan African University Institute for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation1,443 works
54
18Technical University of Mombasa1,258 works
53
19Great Lakes University of Kisumu310 works
49
20Karatina University1,053 works
49
21United States International University Africa1,526 works
49
22Dedan Kimathi University of Technology1,398 works
48
23Mount Kenya University3,442 works
48
24Meru University of Science and Technology1,037 works
45
25Chuka University1,457 works
43
26University of Kabianga996 works
40
27Tom Mboya University College312 works
39
28Kisii University2,151 works
37
29Catholic University of Eastern Africa2,034 works
35
30Kenya Methodist University1,468 works
35
31Kenya Medical Training College442 works
34
32Machakos University653 works
34
33Taita Taveta University506 works
32
34Daystar University808 works
29
35Kabarak University1,342 works
29
36Murang'a University of Technology718 works
26
37Kaimosi Friends University489 works
25
38Rongo University852 works
25
39Multimedia University of Kenya463 works
24
40University of Eastern Africa, Baraton355 works
24
41KCA University501 works
22
42Kirinyaga University481 works
22
43St. Paul's University878 works
22
44Amref International University266 works
20
45Bomet University258 works
19
46Laikipia University614 works
19
47Kibabii University1,044 works
18
48The Co-operative University of Kenya349 works
18
49Uzima University College84 works
18
50Adventist University of Africa298 works
17
Highlights
Within Kenya, University of Nairobi ranks first in 2026 with 274, followed by Moi University (169) and Kenyatta University (143).
University of Nairobi is 1.6 times higher than Moi University, the runner-up.
Across 50 entries, values run from 274 (University of Nairobi) to 17 (Adventist University of Africa), with a median of 42.
Source: OpenAlex, institutional Research h-index, 2026. Unit: h-index.
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