It was started in 2005 through a partnership between Strathmore University and IESE Business School.
As part of Strathmore University, it is a private non-profit institution and a corporate work of Opus Dei, a Personal Prelature of the Catholic Church.
In 2005, Strathmore University entered into a partnership with IESE Business School, creating Strathmore University Business School.
It operated from office space in the university's library, conducting classes in the conference facilities of hotels in Nairobi.
[3] In 2009, construction began at the site of a new campus, at which it started operating in 2012.