USIU in Nairobi was founded in 1969 when it was granted a Presidential Charter by President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta making it the first and only secular university in East Africa. In 1970 USIU began with five American students in a house in Parklands. Only the first two years of classes were being offered and students had to go to the San Diego to complete their degrees. The University later re-located to Mayfair Hotel.

The beginning of the Seventh-day Adventist education in this part of Africa dates back to the establishment of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the region. With the earliest church having been established in Tanzania in 1903, followed by more work around Lake Victoria in Kenya in 1906. In 1927 work started in Uganda and in 1928 what is now known as Kamagambo Adventist College was established near Kisii town. Many primary and secondary schools have since been established. Some of these have been offering post secondary education, but none of them has offered a full bachelor’s degree programme.

The University of Nairobi uses the 'learning centered' approach in its programmes. This has enabled our institution to create an environment that graduates students with well-developed intellectual skills in their field of specialization. They also have a foundation of broad knowledge, effective written and oral communication skills, a strong ethical base, a sense of civil responsibility, proficiency in the use of technology, a global perspective and desire to purse life long learning.