By James Mutua
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to placing science, technology and innovation at the centre of Kenya’s development agenda during the inaugural Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for Society (STRI4Society) Week at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.
Speaking at the closing ceremony on Friday, Mudavadi said the week-long event reflected Kenya’s determination to bridge the gap between scientific research and practical societal solutions under the theme “Igniting Innovation: Bridging Science and Society for Sustainable Development.”
The event brought together more than 5,000 stakeholders, including scientists, researchers, innovators, development partners, universities, TVET institutions, policymakers and industry leaders from across Africa and beyond.
Mudavadi said Kenya was proud to host the first-of-its-kind forum, noting that it reinforced Nairobi’s position as a regional hub for science, technology and innovation.
He said the government considers science, technology and innovation as key drivers of socioeconomic transformation and sustainable development.
“The true value of science lies in its transition from discovery to application and from knowledge generation to practical use,” said Mudavadi.
He emphasized that scientific knowledge becomes more impactful when it reaches communities, industries, markets and policymakers, adding that science should not remain confined to laboratories and academic institutions.
Mudavadi noted that the government had recently launched the Kenya Science, Research and Innovation Synergy Blueprint aimed at aligning and accelerating the country’s research and innovation ecosystem.
He also acknowledged challenges affecting the sector, including weak coordination within the research and innovation landscape and limited collaboration between academia and industry.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary expressed confidence that the establishment of the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation would strengthen governance, improve coordination and help translate research into market-ready innovations that deliver economic value to Kenyans.
He said the government is committed to increasing funding for research, science and innovation to at least two percent of Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product to support commercialization of research and innovation.
Mudavadi further welcomed the announcement of the Grand Challenge Initiative under the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation and the National Research Fund with support from the Science for Africa Foundation.
He also lauded plans to launch the Masterplan for Research Financing and Capacity Strengthening document supported by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Mudavadi urged participants to continue engaging through their networks to implement resolutions reached during the conference and advance the role of science in national development.
