Financial Crisis in Threatens Research and Innovation in Kenyan Universities

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Financial Crisis in Threatens Research and Innovation in Kenyan Universities.

Researchers have voiced alarm over the growing financial crisis in many local universities, warning that the lack of funding is a major setback to research and innovation efforts across the country. According to experts, these challenges have placed universities at a crossroads, threatening their contribution to national development.

A significant number of institutions are grappling with inadequate resources, which has made it nearly impossible to nurture innovative projects from inception to completion. Only a handful of universities are currently equipped to fund research and innovation effectively. As a result, numerous opportunities remain untapped, despite their potential to boost the national economy.

The Executive Director of the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC), Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi, who led the research team, observed that due to financial constraints, universities have had to focus exclusively on teaching.

This shift has left little room for innovation and research-based development. She emphasized that the lack of investment has pushed institutions to cut back on crucial non-academic functions.

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Dr. Kyobutungi highlighted that most African governments allocate an average of just 0.45% of their GDP to research and innovation. In Kenya, the figure stands at approximately 0.6%. She pointed out that such low investment levels have left higher learning institutions overstretched and unable to support groundbreaking work.

“If African governments don’t inject more funding into research and innovation, then we fear economic growth in the continent. They need to direct more to this field, as most universities are cash-crunched,” Dr. Kyobutungi stated.

Due to these funding gaps, many innovators have become disillusioned, with their projects failing to progress beyond the prototype stage. She noted that research is expensive and must be given top priority in budgeting to address the numerous challenges facing African nations. Dr. Kyobutungi stressed that innovation is key to development and must be embraced as a sustainable path forward.

In addition to calling on governments, Dr. Kyobutungi urged universities to embrace innovation as a strategic tool to retain relevance and expand their sources of income. She said commercializing inventions and intellectual property could create alternative revenue streams and help institutions achieve financial sustainability.

To rescue the future of innovation, researchers called for immediate collaboration between universities, the government, and private stakeholders. Such partnerships, they said, would ensure sufficient investment in research and innovation, ultimately driving economic growth.

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At Zetech University, efforts to promote innovation are already underway. The institution’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Alice Njuguna, explained that Zetech has established an innovation hub that not only provides mentorship but also connects creative students with global markets. The university also offers financial support to students with promising entrepreneurial ideas.

“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.

Professor Njuguna underscored that supporting innovation is central to preparing students for international competitiveness and ensuring that their ideas receive the exposure and support necessary for success.

Financial Crisis in Threatens Research and Innovation in Kenyan Universities.