Kenya’s Universities Get Gov’t Nod To Commercialize Innovation

The Kenyan government has thrown its weight behind a new push to transform the country’s universities into hubs of innovation and commercialization, marking a bold step toward turning academic research into tangible economic impact.

In a landmark event organized by the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA), 25 Vice Chancellors and Deputy Vice Chancellors convened in Nairobi for a high-level Entrepreneurial Leaders’ Training Program (ELTP). The initiative is part of the broader Entrepreneurial Institutions Maturity Framework (EIMF), and aims to embed commercialization and entrepreneurship at the core of Kenya’s higher education system.

“Universities are Kenya’s most vital innovation engines,” said Dr Tonny Omwansa, CEO of KeNIA. “Through this program, we are enabling Vice Chancellors to lead systemic change, embed innovation in teaching and governance, and ensure research benefits society.”

Despite Kenya ranking among Africa’s top three countries in research output, less than 10% of that research is commercialized—a gap the ELTP seeks to close. The program focuses on empowering university leaders to reform governance structures, establish Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), allocate internal funding for commercialization, and foster entrepreneurial thinking within their institutions.

The training also saw a strong show of support from the Ministry of Education. Professor Abdulrazak Shaukat, Principal Secretary for Science, Research and Innovation, emphasized the government’s commitment to positioning universities as problem-solving institutions directly linked to job creation and national development.

“Universities are no longer ivory towers—they must be centres of real-world problem-solving,” Prof. Shaukat said. “We are scaling up investment in R&D, launching national think tanks, and advancing science diplomacy to ensure no innovator or institution is left behind.”

The event served not only as a training session but also as a live showcase of university-led innovation efforts already underway across the country.

Among the highlights:

• Crackfox, a venture supported by the University of Embu, secured $890,000 in international funding in partnership with the University of Michigan.
• The Presidential Innovation Fund awarded $77,399.38 (KES 10 million) to top university-led startups including Afyalishe.
• KCA University filed 11 patents following capacity-building support from KeNIA.
• Maasai Mara University launched a Technology Transfer Office and is now commercializing its research in bioenergy and agriculture.

“We are seeing real momentum,” added Dr Omwansa. “Vice Chancellors are stepping up as innovation leaders, and universities are putting research to work.”

With this renewed focus, the Kenyan government and university leaders are setting the stage for a future where research not only informs academia but drives new industries, generates jobs, and positions Kenya as a regional innovation powerhouse.