Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology sets aside Sh340m for research partnerships

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has set aside more than Sh340 million for research. The university's Vice Chancellor Prof Mabel Imbuga said the money will fund projects in energy, engineering, food security and climate change.

Already the institution has introduced new academic programmes in the field of Real Estate, Bio-systems and Environmental Engineering Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences, Industrial Mathematics and Innovation Technology Management, which will benefit from the monies.

Speaking at the institution's 26th graduation ceremony, JKUAT Chancellor Prof Geoffrey Ole Maloiy said he had identified and established partnerships with local and international partners mainly Sino-Africa Joint Research Centre projects and the Africa-ai-Japan.

"This will strengthen the institution's capacity to conduct research and collaborations with various county governments focusing on the development and commercialisation of innovation products from the university," he said.

The Chancellor announced that in August next year, JKUAT will  participate in the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Nairobi. Kenya will be the first country to host this important conference in Africa.

JICA is the major developer of the Sh24 billion Mombasa Port Development Project being carried out by the government.

Prof Imbuga stated that the university would maintain its quality standards. 

"Even as JKUAT is expanding we have stringent adherence to quality as a key guiding principle," she said.

Recently, JKUAT acquired the iconic ICEA Building along Kenyatta Avenue, Nairobi at the cost of Sh1.85 billion. Over 3,811 graduands  were conferred degrees during the graduation ceremony.