The Distance Learning Centre was started in October 1992.

Distance Learning Courses in Accountancy were introduced to provide students who are unable to attend lectures at Strathmore University, owing to professional or domestic problems, with the possibility of drawing from the expertise of the lecturers of the School of Accountancy, without having to attend long-term courses.

For students who already work outside Nairobi it is often difficult to be re-employed, or to obtain employment in a different organisation, even after they have passed further examinations. Giving up employment to pursue a course in Nairobi can be detrimental. A Distance Learning Course will help solve this problem.

The current student population is 1,600 students. The Centre draws its students from all over Eastern Africa, including Rwanda and Burundi.