Academic research and innovation in Kenyan public universities have been adversely affected as they are forced to run on shoestring budgets, scholars from government-funded and private institutions say.

The researchers from diverse academic fields are concerned that unless the government reviews its priorities, the current financial struggles in most local universities will force Kenya to over-rely on foreign institutions for even simple tasks that can be done locally.

The researchers say only a few universities are in a financial position to effectively fund research and innovations, locking out the many opportunities that lie unearthed and which can contribute positively to the country’s economic development.

African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) Executive Director Catherine Kyobutungi say the financial constraints have forced most universities to focus only on their core business of education.

The academics are now calling for partnerships between the institutions, the government and the private sector to save the future of innovations.

Kyobutungi decried the low investment towards research and innovation by most African governments at an average of 0.45 per cent of their GDP with Kenya investing about 0.6 per cent saying this has left the institutions of higher learning stretched.

“If African governments don’t inject more funding in research and innovation, then we fear economic growth on the continent will stall. They need to direct more to this field as most universities are cash crunched,” said Kyubutungi.

She added that financial constraints have caused frustrations among innovators whose projects have never scaled past the prototype stage with funding not forthcoming.

“Research is a cost; it must be itemised on priority funding and will become effective in solving the many problems that bedevil African countries. Without research, we will not have development, we must always be innovative,” she said.

The official at the same time challenged the universities to tap into research and innovation to be able to maintain relevance and potentially diversify revenue streams. This, she said, they can thus use to commercialize discoveries, intellectual property and become more financially sustainable.

Zetech Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) Alice Njuguna said the institution has an innovation hub that not only provides mentorship but also links innovative students with the international market.

She said this is besides the funding that they offer to students who come up with enterprising innovations.

“We have been working with not only students but locals who have passion for innovation. We have also been linking them with markets in different industries, with some students going to Nigeria, Ghana and the UK,” she said.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Muoki Charles

Executive Director of African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) Catherine Kyobutungi (right) with Zetech University Vice Chancellor, Prof Njenga Wainaina, during a stakeholders meeting at the institutions Mang’u Campus.