Kampala International University (KIU) is set to lose a 61.3-acre property in Kajiado County after Keysian Auctioneers announced a public auction scheduled for Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at 11:00 AM.
The auction, which will take place at CPF House, Haile Selassie Avenue in Nairobi, follows a court ruling that cleared the way for chargees to enforce their statutory power of sale — a move signaling that KIU defaulted on its financial obligations.
Prime Land, Incomplete Structures Up for Grabs
The property, located just 1.6 km off Namanga Road in the Kiasju area, includes several unfinished educational buildings, among them:
- A four-storey administration block
- Five-storey dining block
- Three-storey guesthouse
- Four-storey powerhouse
- Four-bedroom bungalow
Despite its potential, the property now sits at the heart of a financial and legal storm that dates back over a decade.
The $10M Loan That Snowballed
The dispute stems from a $10 million loan KIU secured in January 2014 to fund a Kenyan campus in Kitengela. However, delays in disbursing the remaining $5 million sparked a drawn-out legal battle.
By 2018, compounded interest at 9.5% ballooned the total loan to over $24 million. A 2019 arbitration ruled in favor of Housing Finance, a decision later upheld by the High Court, Court of Appeal, and most recently, the Supreme Court, which dismissed KIU’s final appeal.
Auction Details and Conditions
Interested bidders must deposit KSh 5,000,000 before bidding. The sale is subject to a reserve price, and the auctioneer reserves the right to reject any bid without explanation.
10% of the winning bid must be paid on the spot, with the remaining balance due within 90 days — unless otherwise agreed with the chargees.
Despite the high-profile nature of the case, KIU has not released any public statement regarding the impending loss of its Kenyan property.
About KIU: A Regional Education Giant Under Strain
Founded in 2001, Kampala International University operates its main campus in Kansanga, Kampala, and a Western campus in Bushenyi, which hosts the KIU Teaching Hospital. It also runs a college in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and has been developing a Nairobi campus — the now-doomed property.
With offerings across Health Sciences, Engineering, Law, Business, Education, and more, KIU has long marketed itself as a beacon of private education across East Africa.
But the looming auction paints a different picture — one of financial missteps, legal setbacks, and a growing question over the university’s long-term strategy in regional expansion.
