What to do at the University of Nairobi: main campus, Chiromo, Kikuyu and Kabete

UoN is the oldest university in Kenya, and it shows in both the prestige and the bureaucracy. Your experience depends heavily on which campus you are assigned to.

Main campus on Harry Thuku Road houses most humanities, law, and business courses. Chiromo campus, a short walk away, is where science and tech students spend most of their time. Kikuyu campus is about 25 kilometres from the CBD and serves the School of Education. Kabete campus handles agriculture and veterinary sciences.

Registration happens at your specific campus. Arrive early. Lines at UoN are legendary, especially during the first two weeks. Carry your admission letter, national ID, KCSE certificate, and passport photos. If you are a HELB recipient, have your loan allocation letter ready.

Orientation varies by campus but usually runs for about a week. Attend it. You will learn the layout, meet your department heads, and pick up your student ID. Without the student ID, you cannot access the library or sit exams.

The student population is massive. You will not know everyone in your faculty, let alone the entire university. That is normal. Focus on finding your people in the first month, whether through clubs, your class group, or the hostel block.

If you are coming from outside Nairobi, the pace of the city can be overwhelming. UoN does not hold your hand. You figure things out by asking second-years, reading notice boards, and checking the student portal regularly.

UoN has one of the most active student tech scenes in Kenya, largely because of its location in Nairobi and the size of its student body.

Computer Science Students Association (CSSA): the departmental club for CS students. They run coding sessions, invite speakers from the industry, and organise internal hackathons. If you are in the School of Computing, this is your starting point.

Google Developer Student Club (GDSC UoN): part of the global Google programme. They host workshops on Android development, cloud computing, and web technologies. Open to students from any faculty. Look for their posters around Chiromo at the start of semester.

Blockchain and AI clubs: these rotate in activity level depending on who is leading them. Check the Dean of Students notice board at your campus for current listings.

ACM Student Chapter: focuses on competitive programming and algorithms. If you enjoy problem-solving, this is where you sharpen your skills.

Beyond official clubs, a lot of tech activity at UoN happens informally. WhatsApp groups, Telegram channels, and study groups form within the first few weeks. Ask your classmates. The Nairobi tech ecosystem is minutes away. Meetups at iHub, Nairobi Garage, and other spaces are accessible by matatu or on foot from main campus.

If you want to start your own tech club, UoN has a formal process through the Dean of Students office. You need a constitution, a patron from the faculty, and at least 20 founding members.

Jomo Kenyatta Memorial Library (JKML): the main library on Harry Thuku Road. It is large, usually has seats available on upper floors, and stays open until late evening during exam season. You need your student ID to enter. The ground floor can get noisy. Head to the upper floors for quiet study.

Chiromo Library: smaller but closer to the science labs. Good for quick study sessions between practicals. The reading room fills up fast during exams, so arrive early.

Computer labs: the School of Computing has labs at Chiromo that are open to students during set hours. If you do not have a laptop, this is where you will do your programming assignments. The machines are shared, so save your work to a USB drive or cloud storage.

Wi-Fi: UoN has campus Wi-Fi, but the speed varies by location and time of day. Main campus and Chiromo tend to have better coverage. Buy a personal data bundle as backup. Safaricom and Airtel have student-friendly packages.

Off-campus study spots: the Kenya National Library on Ngong Road is a short matatu ride from main campus. Several cafes along University Way and Koinange Street offer Wi-Fi and are popular with students who want a change of scenery. Java House and Art Caffe locations in the CBD work if you can afford a coffee.

During exam season, the library gets packed. Find your preferred spot in the first few weeks of semester and make it a habit. The students who struggle most are the ones who never establish a regular study routine.

Accommodation: UoN hostels include halls of residence on and near main campus. Demand far exceeds supply. If you get a room, take it. If you do not, you will need to find a bedsitter or shared room nearby.

For main campus students, areas like Mamlaka Road, State House Road, and parts of Hurlingham have student-friendly rentals. Expect to pay between KES 8,000 and KES 15,000 per month for a bedsitter, depending on the distance and condition.

Chiromo students sometimes rent in Parklands or Westlands. The commute is short, and there are more food options in those areas. Prices are slightly higher.

If you are at Kikuyu campus, the town itself has affordable rentals within walking distance. Life is quieter there, and the cost of living is lower than Nairobi CBD.

Food: the campus cafeterias serve affordable meals, but the portions and variety depend on the day. Most students supplement with kibandas and food vendors near the gates. Along University Way, you will find everything from chapati and beans to rice and stew for between KES 100 and KES 200.

Transport: if you live off-campus, matatus are your main option. Routes along Thika Road, Ngong Road, and University Way are frequent. An NCBA loop card or similar tap-and-go card saves you from carrying coins. Budget about KES 100 to KES 150 per day for transport if you are commuting.

Safety: Nairobi requires street smarts. Do not walk with your phone out after dark, especially around River Road or the bus stations. Stick to well-lit routes. If you are coming home late from the library, walk with a friend or take a boda-boda for the last stretch.

Read more about choosing between hostel and off-campus living and what to pack for your first semester.