History

//History
[icon_timeline][icon_timeline_sep time_sep_title=”OUR HISTORY” font_size=”desktop:18px;”][icon_timeline_item time_title=”Establishment of a co-operative training institution “]1908

The first co-operative in Kenya was founded by the Colonial Government. This was a typical British Co-operative Business Model which sidelined Africans from the mainstream economy. Such state of affairs was to be sustained albeit with slight flexibility during the struggle towards independence.[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=”School of cooperation”]1952

That is how in 1952 the school of cooperation was started at the then Jeans School (now Kenya School of Government) which saw the three East African countries: Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania/Tanganyika establish the school to ensure the uniqueness of the Co-operative Business Model was preserved.[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=”The Co-operative College of Kenya was born “]1967

And that is how in 1967, the Co-operative College of Kenya was born with 40 students at Allen Road, the present Daystar University Campus next to Kenyatta National Hospital which gave way to the construction of the present Co-operative College located at Ushirika Road, Karen.[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=”Mzee Jomo Kenyatta laid a foundation stone of the college”]1970 (June 18th )

The first President of the Republic of Kenya, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta laid a foundation stone of the college as currently evidenced by the foundation stone at the main entrance towards the Nordic Assembly Hall.[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=”The college was able to host three diploma courses”]1974 – 1982

The principal reports that, “the tempo of the growth of the college was on the upward trend” ( COCK Annual Report, 1974).College facilities were expanded to cope with rising demand for co-operative business education and training ( COCK Annual Report, 1978). The college was able to host three diploma courses; the highest most esteemed college education level ( COCK Annual Report, 1979)( COCK Annual Report, 1974).Construction works began in 1978 and were completed in 1980 ( COCK Annual Report, 1980).Performance in all college courses was recorded as satisfactory and encouraging with very low failure rates ( COCK Annual Report, 1982)[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=”The mission of the college was defined “]1983

The mission of the college was defined and stated as, “ a national training institute involved in the training personnel of co-operative societies and unions as well as middle cadre government officers who help in supervision of activities of the movement on behalf of the Ministry of Co-operative Development ( COCK Annual Report, 1983)[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=”The College launched its first degree programme”]2005

The College launched its first degree programme, the Bachelor of Co-operative Business in collaboration with Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (College prospectus,2005)[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=”The University College is awarded her Charter”]2016 (October 7th)

The University College is awarded her Charter by the fourth President of the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency, Uhuru Kenyatta; coincidentally the son of the first president, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta who laid the foundation stone for the college establishment. It became The Co-operative University of Kenya and the first one of its own kind.[/icon_timeline_item][/icon_timeline]