KCA began in 1989 as the Kenya College of Accountancy, with 170 students. Today, this number has increased more than sevenfold. In 1997, it began the process of converting into a university. In collaboration with Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and the University of South Africa, it began offering degree programmes.
In addition to its main campus in Nairobi, KCA now has sites in Kitengela and Kisumu, as well as satellite colleges elsewhere in Kenya. There are four undergraduate faculties: the school of business; the school of education, arts and social sciences; the school of technology; and KCA university and professional and technical training institute.
KCA campuses are non-residential, but the university has partnered with a number of off-campus hostels, which it regularly inspects. Some of these provide a long list of amenities, including in one case a rooftop gym; others list only furniture as an available amenity.
There is a university gym, and KCA students compete in a number of sporting tournaments and leagues, as well as playing recreationally. Sports on offer include football, basketball, hockey, karate, tae kwon do and table tennis.
Clubs and societies range from music club and drama club to wildlife club and journalism club. A peer-counselling club is complemented by official university counselling services. There is also a university “chill zone”, where students can meet up with one another and chat.
