Princeton-backed innovation hub launches in Kenya to plug skills gap

Professor Leonard Wantchekon of Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs speaks at the inauguration of a new innovation hub in Homa Bay. [File, Standard]

A Princeton University-linked initiative has launched a major research hub in western Kenya designed to directly address the critical skills gap hindering economic growth across Kenya and Africa by connecting local challenges with global academic expertise.

The Princeton-African School of Economics Research (PASER) Hub, inaugurated at Tom Mboya University (TMU), aims to create a new model for development where municipalities and devolved governments use data-driven research to shape policy, train a new generation of professionals, and attract investment. The launch was done during the recent Devolution Conference 2025.