Mombasa: The Government is in the final stages of developing comprehensive policies on research development, Artificial Intelligence, and science diplomacy, aiming to strengthen Kenya’s innovation ecosystem and enhance health care delivery. Speaking during the 7th Kenya Association of Muslim Medical Professionals (KAMMP) scientific conference, Principal Secretary (PS) for Science, Research and Innovation, Professor Abdulrazak Shaukat, revealed the upcoming policies.
According to Kenya News Agency, the government is finalizing a Research Development Policy to complement the Science, Technology and Innovation Act of 2013. “We already have the Science, Technology and Innovation Act, that was enacted in 2013, but we are finalizing the science, technology and innovation policy that is going to look at the entire ecosystem, including health,” said Professor Shaukat.
The PS announced that additional policies are being developed, including a strategy for Artificial Intelligence and a policy on science diplomacy to promote international collaboration in scientific research. “We are developing the policy for Artificial Intelligence and we are in the trajectory of finalizing the Science Diplomacy Policy, so that we can bring the internationalization of science and work in the country, in the region as a continent and globally in contributing to global knowledge and have impact in the community and society at large,” he stated.
Professor Shaukat commended the conference for addressing technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, genomics, and nanotechnology, particularly in nano-medicine applications. He also noted the emergence of local pharmaceutical industries capable of producing medicines for Kenyan consumption, marking a step towards self-sufficiency in medical production.
He disclosed that the government allocates 0.8 per cent of GDP to research and development, with plans to increase this to one per cent. “The government is committed to supporting research and development, including the areas of health through the National Research Fund,” he added.
Dr. Abdullah Bajaber, Secretary General of KAMMP, emphasized the importance of government support in enabling youth innovations to flourish. He noted challenges such as funding, regulatory approvals, and policy frameworks, which hinder young innovators, and stressed the importance of collaboration to overcome these hurdles.
Dr. Omar Ahmed, Director of the State Department of Public Health Standards, expressed the ministry’s intent to collaborate with professional organizations like KAMMP to advance the government’s health agenda, including strengthening the Social Health Authority and ensuring access to quality affordable health care.
Dr. Zainab Gura, CEO of Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital, highlighted the critical role of human resources in achieving Universal Health Coverage. She called for collaboration between health professionals and government departments to translate research findings into effective policies and practices.