The Commission for University Education (CUE) has advocated for a huge chunk of the funds set aside for research and development to be earmarked specifically to universities.The Commission's CEO Prof Mike Kuria said out of the 2% of the country's' Gross Domestic Product (GDP) committed to research and development, a huge percentage should go to universities to enable them conduct their core mandates in these areas effectively.
Speaking during a tree planting exercise at Zetech University, Prof Kuria said several areas of research and innovations in universities have stagnated, with researchers getting frustrated as their ideas and innovations end up on the shelves due to underfunding.
He said the commission has written reports recommending the same, and hopes it will be implemented.
The commitment of 2% of the country's GDP is part of the Science, Technology and innovation Act of 2013 that seeks to boost the Science, Technology and Innovation sector. However, according to the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI), Kenya spends about 0.8% of its GDP on research and development, a fact that has made it a challenge for researchers to carry out their responsibilities.
