Prof. Naomi Maina, Director – Diectorate of Grants Management and Dr. Peter Kahenya, Director-Research in attendance of a regional stakeholders meeting on Kenya Science, Research and Innovation (SRI) Initiative – Panari Hotel, Nairobi.

The State Department for Science, Research and Innovation (SDSRI), in partnership with the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) and the British High Commission, convened the Nairobi–Central Regional Stakeholders Meeting under the Kenya Science, Research and Innovation Synergy Initiative on 5 February 2026 at Panari Hotel, Nairobi.

The meeting formed part of a series of engagements aimed at gathering insights for a comprehensive landscape analysis of Kenya’s science, research, and innovation (SRI) ecosystem. It also provided a platform for co-creating a shared national vision and identifying strategic priorities to strengthen coordination and effectiveness across the country’s research and development landscape. Parallel workshops were also held in the Eastern, Western, and Coastal regions to ensure broad stakeholder engagement. The Coastal Region workshop was presided over by Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, Principal Secretary, SDSRI, Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, Republic of Kenya.

The high-level sessions brought together senior government officials, university leadership, researchers, and other key stakeholders to validate and align national priorities in SRI. Discussions focused on five key pillars: Policy and Governance Coherence; Strategic Funding and Investment; Human Capital and Infrastructure; Academia–Industry–Government-Strategic Partners Linkages and International and Diaspora Collaboration; and Data and Digital Infrastructure.

These deliberations contributed directly to shaping a coordinated, high-impact SRI framework that advances national, regional, and global development goals. Participants also provided input on proposed strategies and the national blueprint to strengthen Kenya’s SRI ecosystem.