Nyeri, Kenya — Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT) held its 18th Graduation Ceremony on Friday, May 16, 2025, at the university’s main campus grounds in Nyeri. The event brought together graduands, university leadership, faculty, family, and government officials in a celebration of academic achievement and institutional progress.
A total of 1,046 students graduated across various academic levels. One candidate was conferred with a Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering. At the master’s level, sixteen students graduated in fields such as Advanced Manufacturing and Automation, Industrial Engineering and Management, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Civil Engineering, Food Science and Technology, Forensics and Security Management, GIS and Remote Sensing, Geothermal Energy Technology, and the Master of Business Administration programme.
A notable number of 77 candidates were awarded Postgraduate Diplomas in Technical and Vocational Education, a reflection of DeKUT’s growing role in upskilling technical trainers and supporting national goals in TVET.
Undergraduate degrees were awarded across a wide range of disciplines, with strong numbers in engineering and applied sciences. Electrical and Electronic Engineering produced the highest number of graduands at 99, followed by Civil Engineering with 95, Mechatronic Engineering with 94, and Mechanical Engineering with 84. Telecommunication and Information Engineering had 82 graduands. Other key programmes included Geomatics Engineering and GIS (53), Geospatial Information Science (54), Nursing (35), Actuarial Science (47), and Business Administration (18), among others.
Chancellor General (Rtd) Dr. Julius Waweru Karangi, who was represented by Council Chairman Dr. James Kariuki ,praised the graduating class for their commitment and resilience, encouraging them to uphold the values of integrity, innovation, service, and excellence. He urged the graduates to be ambassadors of DeKUT and contribute meaningfully in their respective fields.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Eng. Peter N. Muchiri, delivered a speech that focused on the values of discipline, academic excellence, and innovation. He highlighted recent achievements including the Washington Accord accreditation for the BSc in Mechatronics Engineering, and professional recognition of Chemical and Telecommunication Engineering programmes by the Engineers Board of Kenya. He noted DeKUT’s expanding role in bridging academia with industry through partnerships with organizations such as KenGen and the Geothermal Development Company. He also emphasized the university’s emphasis on emerging areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Data Science.
Council Chair, Dr. James Kariuki, reiterated the institution’s commitment to quality, ethics, and innovation. He celebrated the Class of 2025 as future leaders in their industries and noted that DeKUT had recently been ranked the second-best public university in Kenya. He credited this success to the collective efforts of students, faculty, staff, and partners.
The Chief Guest, Cabinet Secretary for Education Hon. Julius Ogamba, commended the university for its leadership in technical education. He lauded its hands-on learning approach and innovations such as the Virtual Mechatronics Lab and Software Development Centre. He also visited the university’s innovation hubs and praised its integration of Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and Virtual Reality in training.
This year’s ceremony also highlighted several institutional recognitions and innovations. DeKUT was awarded by the Public Service Commission in 2024 for excellence in governance and public service delivery. Its entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem, led by the DeKUT Startup and Incubation Centre, continues to support student-led innovations, with over 150 students participating in the most recent hackathon.
Scientific excellence was also evident. A student-developed computer vision system for mineral identification achieved 95% accuracy using deep learning, while the AI-powered Project Alsight was selected for the 2025 Data Science Africa Hackathon. The university’s geospatial programmes have also advanced in integrating UAVs, LiDAR, and AI into environmental and urban applications.
As the ceremony came to a close, the graduates stepped into the next chapter of their professional journeys, equipped with the skills and knowledge earned through years of rigorous training. With DeKUT’s continued focus on innovation, industry collaboration, and academic excellence, the institution continues to affirm its role as a key player in shaping Kenya’s technological and scientific future.
