Kenya has taken a major step toward building a knowledge-driven economy following the launch of the Kenya Research Financing and Capacity Strengthening Masterplan on May 21, 2026. The Masterplan was officially unveiled by the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, EGH, who underscored the urgent need for Kenya to invest more strategically in research and innovation amid growing global uncertainties.
Speaking during the launch, Dr. Mudavadi observed that the world is grappling with unprecedented shocks ranging from geopolitical conflicts and climate change to the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasized that Kenya’s resilience and competitiveness will increasingly depend on its ability to generate scientific solutions through research and innovation.
“The government must commit requisite resources towards research and innovation,” he said, noting that scientific innovation remains central to economic transformation and national preparedness.
The Masterplan comes at a critical time for Kenya. Despite being one of Africa’s leading innovation hubs, the country’s research ecosystem has long faced challenges including fragmented financing, inadequate infrastructure, weak industry linkages, and limited commercialization pathways. The newly launched framework seeks to address these gaps by creating a coordinated, sustainable, and performance-oriented system for financing research and strengthening institutional capacity.
The document envisions increasing Kenya’s investment in research and development from the current 0.8% of GDP to 2% of GDP – a move that could significantly accelerate industrial competitiveness, job creation, and technological advancement.
Principal Secretary for the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation, Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, emphasized the importance of translating research into tangible societal benefits.
“Research without impact is a missed opportunity. Nations that invest in research claim prosperity,” he said.
The Masterplan places strong emphasis on commercialization, industry partnerships, modern research infrastructure, digital systems, and human capital development. It also aligns closely with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), positioning research and innovation as critical drivers of growth in agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, and the digital economy.
Developed through a broad consultative process involving government agencies, academia, development partners, and innovation actors, the Masterplan reflects a shared national commitment to reposition research at the center of Kenya’s development agenda. ISAAA AfriCenter played a facilitative role towards the development and adoption of the document that was spearheaded by National Research Fund (NRF) under the State Department.
Its launch signals more than just the unveiling of a policy document; it marks Kenya’s determination to move from fragmented ambition to structured, innovation-led transformation.
Paul Chege is a Senior Program Officer, ISAAA AfriCenter