A crucial highlight of the Science, Technology, Research and Innovation (STRI) for Society Week 2026 was the official launch, on Friday 22 May 2026, of the Kenya Research Financing and Capacity Strengthening Masterplan (2026-2036) by the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, H.E. Dr. Musalia Mudavadi.
Kenya reseach financing and capacity strenghtening masterplan (2026-2036)
This strategic document, supported by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), provides a blueprint for a more structured and accountable research ecosystem. By officiating this launch, the Prime Cabinet Secretary signaled the government’s support for mainstreaming science into the public discourse.
Why this Masterplan Matters:
- A Structured Funding Framework: The plan introduces a more structured and accountable system for financing research, ensuring that government resource allocations are transparent and directed toward high-impact societal needs.
- Driving the 2% GDP Commitment: It provides the strategic framework necessary to achieve the government's ambitious goal of increasing research and innovation funding to at least 2% of Kenya’s GDP.
- Building Institutional Capacity: The masterplan outlines clear targets for investing in the infrastructural capacity of research institutions, ensuring that scientists have the tools and facilities needed to lead global innovation.
- Catalysing Strategic Partnerships: By defining national priority needs, the plan envisions attracting a wider array of international and domestic partners to the research ecosystem, fostering collaborations that turn ideas into "jobs, enterprises, patents, and products".
Ultimately, this masterplan ensures that research is no longer an isolated academic exercise but a central pillar of national transformation, securing a competitive and knowledge-driven future for all Kenyans.