Cooperative University of Kenya Master Plan
The Co-operative University of Kenya (CUK) is a leading center for quality co-operative education, training, research and consultancy in Kenya. The University predecessor was established under Legal Order 161 of 4th November 2011 as a Constituent College of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology with the sole mandate of being a leading institution in Co-operative Education, Training, Research and Consultancy. The Predecessor of the University College was a Semi-Autonomous Government agency (SAGA) under the Ministry of Co-operative Development and Marketing. CUK was chartered in 7th October 2016.
The Main Campus of the University which is the seat of the University located along Ushirika Road in the serene environment of Karen, adjacent to Mbagathi River, Nairobi. The campus is both residential and non-residential. It is located on a 50-acre piece of land and has the necessary facilities for education and training. Early 2016 the university college initiated development of its master plan through participatory approach of all its stakeholders.
This is a 58 year master plan running from 2017 to 2075 and covering Main Campus. The Master Plan intends to accommodate minimum of 44,294 students and 5,467 staff members respectively. Staff is broken down to academic staff of 3770and technical and support staff of 1697. The master plan set out to plan for 372,839.4 m2of plinth area but realized 184,581m2 of space inclusive of the existing space of 23,102m2. This proposal will cost Ksh. 37,623,368,184.18 or US$ 368,856,550.83 to implement. This cost includes all building works, external works, equipment, consultancies, and all taxes associated with such development. 375 parking spaces have been planned for.
The Main Campus shall host the Main administration Building and remain the Headquarters of CUK besides hosting the Schools of: Computing and Mathematics, Basic and Applied Sciences, Co-operative and Business and Administration, Co-operative Studies, Agribusiness and Agricultural Technology, Humanities and Social Sciences, Mass Communication and Journalism, Business, Economics, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Law, Education and other support facilities. Main Campus will also host the Board of Postgraduate Studies, Directorate for Accommodation and Catering Services, Directorate of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), AIDS Control Unit, Directorate for Quality Assurance and Performance Contracting, and Directorate for Sports.
The campus has been planned as pedestrianized neighbourhoods with vehicular activities at the periphery and pedestrian covered walkways connecting the internal and external spaces within the precincts. The campus embraces sustainability design principles and adapts planning principles, such as, pedestrianization of the Campus, keeping common activities central and easily reachable, keeping vehicular activities to the periphery by locating the road and parking along the boundary of the plot and allowing no through road within the development, keeping most building facing North-South, create an integrated and interconnected settlement, keeping specialized activities further away from the central core, creating clarity in circulation, ensuring that core buildings , such as, Hostels, Lecture spaces, and Library create continuous human traffic that promotes safety on campus, and covering main pedestrian routes.
The student population of CUK can grow to a maximum of 44,294 if the other supporting facilities are enhanced. For instance for this growth of student numbers to be realized, the community should be encouraged to develop hostels adjacent to the campus to accommodate the anticipated increased students, water supply would be increased, and other environmental issues should be addressed. The University plans to develop a few student hostels that will accommodate 2480 ladies and 5280 men.
