Nairobi: Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Dr. Musalia Mudavadi has called for stronger science diplomacy, increased investment in research, and deeper collaboration between government, academia, industry, and international partners to accelerate Kenya’s innovation agenda.
According to Kenya News Agency, Mudavadi emphasized the centrality of science, technology, research, and innovation as pillars of Kenya’s economic transformation during his speech at the closing ceremony of the Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for Society (STRI4Society) Week 2026 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). The event highlighted the role of science in addressing both national and global challenges and served as a platform for policy dialogue, knowledge exchange, and showcasing Kenya’s scientific and innovation potential.
Mudavadi stressed the need for stronger university-industry linkages to translate research into practical solutions that can create jobs, enterprises, patents, and policy impact. He stated that universities should focus not only on producing graduates but also on delivering tangible solutions.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary proposed the creation of thematic research clusters and centers of excellence in priority sectors such as artificial intelligence, agriculture, health sciences, climate resilience, biotechnology, blue economy, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy. These clusters are expected to enhance coordination, infrastructure sharing, and the commercialization of research outputs.
He further highlighted the expansion of research within universities and research institutions, emphasizing their role in providing intellectual leadership, mentorship, and aligning research with national development priorities. Mudavadi also underscored the importance of ‘socializing science’ to build public trust, promote investment, and strengthen evidence-based policymaking, noting that public understanding is crucial in combating misinformation.
In a related announcement, State Department for Science, Research and Innovation Principal Secretary Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak introduced the Grand Challenges Kenya Platform, aimed at supporting Kenyan-led innovations through domestic research funding. The platform will offer competitive grants, including early-stage and transition-to-scale grants, to researchers and innovators.
Prof. Abdulrazak urged development partners, academia, industry, and investors to support the initiative to build a sustainable innovation ecosystem. Higher Education and Research Principal Secretary Dr. Beatrice Inyangala highlighted the importance of research commercialization, STEM education, and youth innovation as long-term drivers of competitiveness and sustainable development in Kenya.
The STRI4Society Week 2026 convened government officials, researchers, academia, industry players, students, development partners, and innovators to discuss pressing topics such as artificial intelligence, climate change, health, agriculture, biodiversity, and the blue economy.
