Nairobi: Makini Schools, a subsidiary of the ADvTECH Group, has officially acquired Regis Runda Academy in a move aimed at providing quality private education across Kenya and the continent. Speaking during the handover event, the owner, Mr. Peter Burugu, expressed a blend of pride and nostalgia. ‘This school has been a passion project for our family, but as a businessman, I recognised that it was time to entrust it to an experienced education provider and after thorough vetting, we found Makini to be the ideal custodian of this legacy,’ Burugu said. He was speaking during a media briefing held at the Regis Runda campus in Ridgeways, Nairobi, where key stakeholders from both institutions confirmed that the school would now operate under the name Makini School Runda.
According to Kenya News Agency, the transition will officially take effect on August 20, 2025, with plans already underway to integrate the institution into ADvTECH’s broader ecosystem of education services. ‘We didn’t want to hand over the school to just any buyer. We wanted someone who would preserve and elevate what we’ve built. Makini checked every box,’ Burugu affirmed. Further, Burugu highlighted that while several entities had expressed interest in acquiring the school, only Makini met the family’s high standards for educational integrity, long-term vision, and community impact.
The transition is expected to bring stability, growth, and new opportunities to the school community, as teachers will benefit from access to training, digital tools, and structured support systems, while learners will tap into a broader academic and extracurricular network. The acquisition adds to Makini’s growing footprint, which currently includes campuses in Ngong Road, State House Avenue, Migosi and Kisumu City.
Horace Mpanza, the Regional Managing Director of Makini Schools, emphasised the group’s vision to scale excellence in education. ‘We are pleased to welcome the Regis staff, students, and parents to Makini Schools as we plan to build on the strong foundations the founders have laid and take the school to its next phase of development,’ Mpanza stated. Situated on a 30-acre property with a capacity for over 2,000 learners, Makini School Runda is strategically located in one of Nairobi’s fastest-growing residential areas.
The ADvTECH Group, Africa’s largest private education provider, has committed to investing heavily in digital infrastructure and co-curricular enhancements at the Runda site. These include AI-powered digital learning platforms and upgraded sports facilities aimed at elevating student performance and holistic development. ‘This acquisition reflects our deep commitment to delivering world-class education, as the learners at Makini Runda will benefit from the systems and innovations already in place across our network, which would be difficult for a standalone school to replicate,’ Mpanza noted.
The history of Regis Runda Academy traces back to 2008, when businessman Peter Burugu and his family commissioned the construction of the institution with a vision of promoting educational excellence in the region. Initially leased to a foreign operator, the school faced operational challenges, including financial mismanagement, which led the Burugu family to take over direct management and rebrand it as Regis Runda Academy in recent years.
ADvTECH’s expansion in East Africa is part of a broader continental strategy, as it acquired Flipper International School in Addis Ababa and launched Rosebank International University College in Accra, Ghana, in the past year. The company currently operates 119 schools across 10 brands, including Gaborone International School in Botswana and Crawford International School in Kenya. Geoff Whyte, CEO of ADvTECH Group, described the Makini Runda acquisition as ‘a natural fit’ for the group’s long-term vision. ‘We are delighted to bring Makini’s compelling proposition to a fast-growing region of Nairobi and to continue building on our promise of delivering superior private education across Africa,’ Geoff stated in a separate statement.
As the countdown begins to the official operational takeover, excitement is mounting among parents, students and staff alike. The Makini Schools brand, already known for its academic rigour and innovation, is expected to inject renewed energy and opportunity into the Runda institution. With this acquisition, Makini not only adds another campus to its portfolio but also solidifies its role as a key player in Kenya’s rapidly evolving education landscape.