The Research, Innovation, and Enterprise Division (RIE) led a strong team of student and staff innovators to the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) for the inaugural Science, Technology, Research, and Innovation (STRI) for Society Week 2026. Held throughout the week of 18th to 22nd May 2026, this landmark national event, themed "Igniting Innovation: Bridging Science and Society for Sustainable Development", served as a powerful platform to demonstrate that science is a vital tool for national transformation.
University of Nairobi booth at the University of Nairobi stand at the KICC STRI for Society Week 2026
The event brought together over 5,000 stakeholders, including government leaders, global ambassadors, academia, the research community, industry giants, and members of the public. Our university’s participation underscored commitment to the "quadruple helix model," where academia, government, industry, and the community collaborate to turn research into jobs, products, and policies.
The event reached its peak during the closing ceremony on Friday 22nd May 2026, officiated by the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, His Excellency Dr. Musalia Mudavadi. In a deeply reflective address, the Prime Cabinet Secretary emphasised the urgent need for academic institutions to pivot toward practical problem-solving in an increasingly volatile world. Highlighting the necessity of homegrown resilience, he noted:
"Global shocks should be a serious awakening cause for us... Your skills, your innovations must be brought to bear so that alternative solutions can quickly be made available to citizens, particularly those from developing countries like us".
He further challenged innovators to accelerate the delivery of their work to the marketplace to help communities adjust to these shocks, noting that it can no longer be "business as usual". He reaffirmed the government's commitment to increase research funding to 2 percent of the gross domestic product.
Echoing the sentiments of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary Professor Shaukat Abdulrazak of the State Department for Science, Research, and Innovation, delivered a compelling call to action for the academic community. He emphasised that their success is measured not by the volume of publications produced, but by the tangible improvements brought to Kenyan lives. He stated, "Research without impact is a missed opportunity for society. The true value of research lies not in publication alone but in transformation of lives and economy".
Professor Abdulrazak further stressed that science must "live in our farms, hospitals, industries, schools, oceans, markets, and communities" rather than remaining confined to journals.
University of Nairobi innovators joined nearly 130 exhibiting organisations to showcase solutions aimed at societal impact. The fair was organised around themes like Science for National Development, Industry-Academia-Government Synergy, Digital Futures and Emerging Technologies, and Youth, STEM Education and Innovation Culture. The week also featured a robust scientific programme with 30 oral presentations and 60 poster presentations. Several universities were recognised for their excellence in contributing to youth innovation and digital futures.
The event also features STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) mentorship and the Olympiad award ceremony for high schoolers. This initiative aimed to inspire the next generation of scientists, particularly young girls, ensuring that the pipeline for future researchers remains strong and diverse
The STRI for Society Week 2026 was organised and convened under the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation (SDRI) in collaboration with National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI); National Research Fund (NRF); and Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) and numerous public, private, and non-governmental organisations.
As the week-long celebration of Kenyan ingenuity at the STRI for Society Week 2026 came to a close, Principal Secretary Professor Shaukat Abdulrazak’s final word served as the perfect mantra for all the stakeholders: "Let’s be agents of change, ambassadors of change... If you've seen anything nice, tell the whole world".