Prioritise resources to science, technology and innovation

Shaukat Abdulrazak

The important role of science, technology and innovation for economic development cannot be over-emphasised. The strategic role that the country Vision 2030 documents accord to science, technology and innovation is testimony to this; indeed it has been earmarked as the bedrock of its economic, social and political pillars.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, therefore, endeavours to promote policies that integrate science and technology in all sectors of the economy.

Auditing of human resource requirements and needs has revealed that Kenya’s pool of science technology and innovation capacities is small and inadequately trained for efficient use of existing knowledge, creation of knowledge and flourishing of entrepreneurship to foster national prosperity and global competitiveness.

Having noted the deficiency in science and technology, the Government has embarked on demystifying and the popularisation of science and technology to reduce the gaps presently being witnessed; where there so many experts in a given field and only a handful in another.

Ccancer experts

For example, adding nuclear energy into our energy mix is expected to reduce our energy costs by up to 80 per cent.

Though a viable option and the Government has set out to implement it, does Kenya have experts in nuclear technology, and how many? Our record shows they are a minute number.

A recent report by Kenya Cancer Association indicates the prevalence rate of the disease locally has shot up.

This paints a grim picture, as there are only 12 oncologists and four experts in the country versed with radiotherapy, a science that helps fight cancer by targeting the cancer cells through radiation.

What, therefore, would the required/sufficient number of experts be if about 18,000 deaths are reported annually and 82,000 new infections diagnosed every year?

Science, technology and innovation face decline, which can negatively impact on the demand for adequate human resources in this area.

The ministry’s initiative is to help attain parity in all disciplines and in no way suggests that social sciences are inferior to pure sciences.

Social sciences

Many will agree with me that the resources and time put into training for social sciences and pure sciences is not commensurate. Where should the Government prioritise its resources?

The economic performance of any country is closely linked to the application of science and technology and it is important that the Vision 2030 strategy, which is being developed, is geared towards enhancing Kenya’s scientific and technological capacity, including scientific culture and integration of science and technology in our production and services sectors.

Instilling science and technology components in any society, i.e. socialisation, is vital for socio-economic development.

We need to embrace the Government’s efforts in implementing scientific intentions.

The writer is Secretary/CEO National Council for Science and Technology.

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