KCA University history dates back to 1989, with the establishment of the institution as Kenya College of Accountancy (KCA)by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) to improve the quality of accountancy and financial management training in the country. The college was founded after a study conducted by Chart Foulks Lynch (CIPFA) services of the UK in 1987/88. The study revealed that the Kenyan economy required an additional four hundred qualified Accountants every year. The output of qualified accountants from the training institutions then was less than one hundred.
In 2007, KCA received Letter of Interim Authority from the Commission for Higher Education to become KCA University and the 1st Vice Chancellor is installed. In 2012, KCA University was approved to receive a Charter from the Commission of Higher Education (CHE).
On 1st March 2013 the university was awarded a charter positioning it on the pedestal of full-fledged universities in Kenya. KCAU is accredited and will continue to offer high quality programmes. The university currently has a portfolio of programmes up to postgraduate studies.
In 2016, KCA received first cohort of publicly funded students from government who chose to study at the university. KCA was also ranked top private university in Employability by British Council Report 2016.