By Our Reporter
Public universities received a huge chunk of research funding for the year 2018-2019.
According to CPS Research International, the University of Nairobi received the lion’s share of Sh537.95 million funding, the highest among the higher learning institutions in the country.
Kenyatta University received Sh456.59 million while Moi University got Sh302.12 million funding for the year 2018-2019.
A study conducted by CPS revealed that public universities and their constituent colleges received 80.3 per cent of the total research funds while private universities received 19.7 per cent.
The study shows 68 per cent of the funding for universities is from government (national and county) and internal sources, compared to 32 per cent which comes from industry, NGOs and other donors.
In a list dominated by public varsities, the highest ranked private university was Strathmore University at seventh position after receiving Sh100.80 million.
Mt Kenya University was second among private universities and ninth overall. Aga Khan University was ranked third and position ten overall.
CPS report noted the state research financing was progressing at a slow pace owing to limited funding.
The survey found out research in local universities leaned more towards science-related topics as against art-related subjects.
This was attributed to the fact that most of the funding comes from government, which despite favouring science-related research also ends up limiting the scope of research for most universities.
The Government funds institutions based on programmes taught and the number of students enrolled in a new system that was expected to come into effect in July
The Government’s research funding for universities was Sh1.9 billion, with other funding from private sector, non-governmental organisations and donors totaling to Sh.2 billion bringing a tally of Sh 3.9 billion funding. Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed has announced the Government will top up its allocation for research and innovation funding to Sh 3 billion.
“In order to encourage increased research, the Government could foster intensive collaboration by providing incentives to the private sector, its commitment to double research by spending to two per cent of GDP, as part of Vision 2030-Kenya’s national economic development strategy- could help bring the private sector on board,” stated the report.
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