Kenya Pushes for Doctoral Reforms to Power Knowledge Economy

By Janet Otieno - Kenya’s journey towards a robust knowledge-based economy took a major step forward during a high-level policy dialogue on doctoral training and skills development, held at the Great Rift Valley Lodge in Naivasha.

The event, hosted by the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) in collaboration with the Regional Coordination Unit of the PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (Rsif) and the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), brought together over 50 stakeholders from government, academia, industry, and development sectors.

The goal? To align national priorities with global trends, share best practices, and develop strategies that will strengthen Kenya’s doctoral training system and position the country as a leader in research and innovation.

Bridging the Talent Gap

Kenya currently has 80 licensed universities and over 600,000 students enrolled by 2025. Yet, only 1.2% of these are in PhD programmes, a glaring indicator of structural gaps in the country’s innovation pipeline.

“This dialogue is more than a policy discussion it’s a commitment,” said Dr Everlyn Nguku, Head of Capacity Building and Institutional Development at icipe.

Dr Everlyn Nguku, Head of Capacity Building and Institutional Development at icipe. Photo Sakina Mapenzi

She stressed the urgency of strengthening intellectual infrastructure to drive Kenya’s next chapter of growth.

“By advancing high-quality doctoral education and fostering African-led research, Rsif plays a key role in promoting inclusive development, scientific excellence, and long-term capacity building across the continent,” she added.

Dr Nguku also highlighted icipe’s impact through its insect-based solutions to global challenges and its continued role as a Centre of Excellence in bioeconomy and science leadership.

Dr David Muthaka, Deputy Commission Secretary at the Commission for University Education (CUE), pointed out a growing disconnect between education and economic impact.

“Despite increased university enrolment, only 43% of academic staff hold PhDs, and just 15% of graduates have practical, work-based experience,” he noted.

He warned that Kenya's low investment in research and development, currently 0.8% of GDP, is far below the African Union’s target of 1.5% and lags behind innovation giants like South Korea, which invests 4.5% of GDP.

Dr Agnes Lutomiah from ACTS added that dropout rates in PhD programmes remain high nearly 50% due to issues such as inadequate funding, mental health struggles, family pressures, and strained relationships with supervisors.

Key Challenges Raised

Participants at the forum outlined several urgent challenges:

Low R&D investment: Kenya spends only 0.8% of its GDP on research below regional and international benchmarks.

Disconnect between research and industry needs. Weak research capacity: Only 43% of university staff hold PhDs. Skills mismatch: Over 40% of employers report that graduates lack adequate skills.

Limited opportunities for career progression and postdoctoral development. Gender disparity: Female PhD enrolment stands at just 34%.

A common theme throughout the dialogue was the need to shift PhD programmes from academic theory to real-world problem-solving.

A panel discussion moderated by Prof George Owuor of Egerton University explored ways to strengthen institutional and national policy frameworks to boost the development impact of doctoral training.

Panellists included top academics and policy leaders like Prof Tom Ogada (ACTS), Charity Musembi (NACOSTI), Prof Benard Muthiani Kivunge (Kenyatta University), Prof Eunice Kamara (Moi University), and Dr Mwende Mbilo (Pwani University and Rsif alumna).

They called for stronger quality assurance from NACOSTI, better research ethics, and reforms that will bring Kenya’s doctoral programmes up to global standards.

Rsif, through icipe, has already offered 302 PhD scholarships, 64 research grants including 23 Junior Investigator Research Awards and 10 institutional innovation grants and continues to invest in capacity building and commercialization of research.

Its work spans five transformative thematic areas: ICT and Artificial Intelligence, Food Security and Agri-business, Minerals and Materials Engineering, Renewable Energy, Climate Change.

Rsif is funded by nine African governments, the World Bank, the Government of Korea, and other development partners.

Building an Innovation-Driven Future

In her closing remarks, Dr Nguku urged participants to go beyond dialogue:

“We must move from talk to action. The partnerships forged here must drive change across institutions, industries, and nations.”

The workshop proposed practical recommendations:

Strategic investment in R&D, including funding portals and mentorship programmes.

Establishment of innovation hubs and stronger university-industry partnerships. Faculty development and improved infrastructure.

Support for gender equity through incentives, mentorship, and flexible learning options. Mental health support and better supervision in doctoral programmes.

Focus on commercialization, IP policies, and technology transfer mechanisms. National research councils to prioritize research uptake and policy alignment.

Dr Salome Wawire from Science for Africa Foundation called for standardized quality assurance systems, structured career transition support, and enhanced research integrity practices.

What Lies Ahead

The dialogue concluded with a resounding consensus: for Kenya to thrive globally, knowledge must be seen as a national asset.

With 75% of the population under 35, investing in the next generation of scientists, innovators, and educators is no longer optional; it'  a national imperative.

“Transforming higher education is not just a goal, it's the foundation of Kenya’s future,” said Dr Muthaka.