A high-level delegation from the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), led by Chancellor Prof. Gary May, visited Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, to explore potential areas of collaboration.
The team paid a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi, as part of efforts to advance the goals outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Kenya and the State of California in September 2025, where UC Davis is part of the implementing secretariat.
Prof. Ngumi, accompanied by Deputy Vice Chancellors Prof. Robert Kinyua (Academic Affairs) and Prof. Jackson Kwanza (Research, Production and Extension), welcomed the UC Davis delegation, noting that JKUAT is a comprehensive university with leading enrollment numbers among public universities; and is keen on expanding its global reach through strategic partnerships.
She highlighted that JKUAT is actively engaged in research collaborations and student exchange programs that support the government’s drive toward internationalization.
Prof. May acknowledged the strong alignment between the two institutions, particularly in agricultural excellence, and expressed enthusiasm in learning more about JKUAT’s key priorities in agriculture, horticulture, and applied research areas that can contribute to Kenya’s national goals and the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Prof. Daniel Sila, Principal of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (COANRE), highlighted JKUAT’s growing interest in advancing research on insects for food and feed, particularly in response to the expanding animal industry and the need for improved animal feed formulation. He also expressed a desire to explore collaborations in wildlife care and conservation.
The insightful discussion, which was also attended by several Deans including Prof. Sherry Oluchina (School of Nursing), Prof. Stanley Kamau (School of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering), and Dr. Lucy Murungi (School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences), provided a platform to explore new areas of mutual research interest.
Dr. Murungi identified several potential areas for collaboration, including climate-smart agriculture, food fortification, crop improvement, nanotechnology, biofertilizers, biopesticides, early warning systems for pest control and management, and the use of artificial intelligence in production and soil health monitoring.
Prof. Ashley Stokes, Dean of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at UC Davis, affirmed that these priorities strongly align with UC Davis’s ongoing research focus.
The two institutions will now explore structured academic partnerships in research and innovation that can inform evidence-based policies and tangible outcomes, under the auspices of the Memoran dum of Understanding between Kenya and the State of California.
