Why research funding remains a major hurdle for local universities

Vihiga County based Kaimosi Friends University College signboard. [File, Standard]

Funding constraints continue to hamper research output in local universities, prompting renewed calls for institutions to forge strategic partnerships with foreign universities as a way of bridging financial and infrastructural gaps.

The call was evident at Kaimosi Friends University (KAFU) during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vignan University of India, a partnership aimed at strengthening academic collaboration, knowledge exchange and joint research initiatives for both students and lecturers.

The agreement is expected to unlock opportunities for collaborative research, staff and student exchange programmes, and shared academic resources.

This will include offering a practical response to long-standing limitations that have curtailed meaningful research in many Kenyan universities.

Speaking during the MoU signing ceremony, Vihiga Governor Dr Wilber Ottichilo said inadequate funding had left many institutions struggling to fully exploit their research potential.

“Research is the backbone of development. Without adequate funding, universities are unable to generate the data required for evidence-based decision-making,” said Governor Ottichilo.

He underscored the importance of science, technology and innovation, noting that research-generated data enables rational planning and policy formulation at both county and national levels.

“Research helps us understand societal challenges and develop practical solutions, and universities remain the most credible centres of knowledge where this work must take place," said Ottichilo.

The MoU brings together Kaimosi Friends University, Kaimosi Friends National Polytechnic and Vignan’s Foundation of Science, Technology and Research (VFSTR) of India.

KAFU Vice Chancellor Prof. Peter Mwita said the partnership would significantly enhance the university’s research capacity through staff exchanges, joint projects and access to advanced technology.

“This collaboration will allow our lecturers to travel to Vignan University to teach, conduct research and interact with advanced laboratories, while their faculty will also come to KAFU to teach, mentor our staff and work with our students,” Prof. Mwita said.

He added that the partnership would help address gaps in specialised teaching areas, particularly in medical-related fields, through visiting faculty from Vignan.

“We currently lack some specialised lecturers. Through this arrangement, visiting professors will support both our students and staff, while we also collaborate on joint research and proposal writing to attract external research funding,” he said.

On his part, Dr Srikant Nandigam, the Chief Executive Officer of Vignan University, said the collaboration would focus on long-term academic exchange and mentorship.

“This MoU is not just a document; it is a commitment to continuous engagement,” said Dr Nandigam. “We want to work together on joint research projects, share global best practices, and ensure frequent academic exchanges that strengthen research output and academic excellence in both institutions.”

The partnership follows a visit in May 2025 by a delegation from the County Government of Vihiga, led by Governor Ottichilo, to Vignan University in India—an engagement that laid the groundwork for the collaboration.