Call for More Funding Towards Research as Curtains Fall on National Research Festival
By Dennis Kipchirchir | Kass Digital
The Principal Secretary for Science, Research and Innovation, Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, has called on the National Treasury to increase Kenya’s funding for research and innovation from the current 0.8 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to between 1 and 2 percent.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the National Research Festival today, Prof. Abdulrazak emphasized that increased investment in research is vital for unlocking Kenya’s potential in science, technology, and entrepreneurship. He noted that many innovators and researchers in the country struggle to advance their projects due to limited funding, a gap the government must urgently address if Kenya is to compete globally.
The PS also reminded participants that research and innovation form part of President William Ruto’s “Beta Agenda,” which prioritizes knowledge-based development as a pathway to industrial growth and job creation. He said the President has consistently stressed that research is not just an academic exercise but a cornerstone for national transformation.
Prof. Abdulrazak further assured innovators that the ministry would put measures in place to safeguard existing research projects and protect intellectual property. He added that his office, together with university stakeholders, is working on curriculum reforms aimed at aligning education with entrepreneurship, so that students can create opportunities beyond formal employment after graduation.
“The concerns raised in this festival will not end here,” he told delegates. “We shall use them as a guiding framework to shape policy, strengthen collaboration with universities, and ensure research output benefits society directly.”
The week-long National Research Festival, which opened on Monday, August 18, 2025, brought together hundreds of stakeholders including academics, researchers, innovators, government officials, and industry players. It served as a platform for showcasing innovations, exchanging ideas, and debating policies that can strengthen Kenya’s research and innovation ecosystem.
Prof. Abdulrazak closed the festival by thanking participants for their commitment and urged them to remain engaged in advancing Kenya’s innovation agenda.
