Sh1 billion for research garden

By Mary Kamande

Kenya and China have launched a Sh1 billion botanical garden in Juja.

The garden was launched at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT)’s main campus.

The garden, to be established on a 40-acre piece of land at the university, is aimed at promoting research in plant biodiversity and conservation.

Dr Robert Gituru, the founding director of the project, said it will help scientists conduct research on medicine and endangered plant species.

Sino-African Centre

The project, the Sino-African Biodiversity Research Centre, is also expected to introduce new plants.

Gitu said the centre would also disseminate cultural and scientific information about plants, and serve as a centre for collecting and maintaining endangered plants.

In addition, it will be used to investigate methods of conserving endangered and rare plant species in their natural habitats.

Ninth facility

The director of Wuhan Botanical Garden, Qing-feng Wang said that China will donate Sh800 million towards the project.

The Kenyan Government and JKUAT will fund the remainder.

The Chinese Government will fund the construction of a laboratory and other facilities at the botanic garden, which will be the ninth such facility in Africa.

Prof Chunli Bai, the president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and JKUAT Chancellor Francis Gichaga attended the launch.

Gichaga praised the partnership, noting the proposed botanical garden will complement local research initiatives.