Egerton University hosted this year's Kenya National Research Festival (NRF) from August 18th to 22nd at the main campus in Njoro. The five-day event brought together learning institutions, government officials, and farmers to forge the future of Kenya's food systems. It was the first time the festival was being held outside Nairobi.
True to a dedicated focus on advancing media, communication and advocacy, CoELIB Media played a key role at the festival, giving voice to ideas, shaping conversations, and driving communication that creates impact. Through live coverage and storytelling, the festival reached communities and supported institutions in sharing their research, building connections, and turning ideas into action.
In his opening remarks, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary His Excellency (H.E.) Mutahi Kagwe spoke on the need for research to remain central to the country's development agenda. He also noted the need to strengthen agroecological centres, expand research labs, and enhance collaboration between universities, noting that farmers must and should always be the beneficiaries of research.
"Building a knowledge-driven agriculture will greatly rely on sustainable research financing, evidence-based policymaking, and support for innovation ecosystems," Kagwe said.
Principal Secretary for Science, Research and Innovation, Shaukat Abdulrazak, highlighted that over 80 percent of Kenya's land is "arid or semi-arid", underscoring the need for innovation to secure food systems and sustain livelihoods. His keynote address backed CoELIB's ongoing efforts to empower agribusinesses and youth entrepreneurs through training, mentorship, and research, enhancing productivity, market access, and sustainable livelihoods across the country.
NRF’s CEO Dickson Andala spoke about the fund's progress since its inception, noting that through support from the national government and partners, more than seven billion has been allocated to 400 research projects, 19 research facilities, and over 700 postgraduate researchers.
"In agriculture alone, NRF has funded over 100 projects ranging from crop yield improvement to livestock management and sustainable farming practices."
Egerton University has received KES 152.9 million from NRF, including KES 39 million for the Safe Food Reference Laboratory, which tests for contaminants to boost consumer confidence. Through CoELIB, the university participates in FORQLAB, a consortium of Dutch universities and Meru University, using a living lab approach to improve dairy and avocado value chains; partnerships like these continue to help sustain such initiatives.
"This festival is a bridge between innovators, researchers, and farmers. We remain committed to ensuring that public investment in research delivers real results and tangible impact for communities on the ground," Egerton University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac O. Kibwage.
Prof. Alexander Kahi, director of CoELIB, spoke on the importance of diversifying livestock products and integrating smallholder farmers into value chains.These efforts are reflected in the IYBA-SEED Business Development Support (BDS) program, where CoELIB and other ecosystem actors work together to equip youth with skills in product certification and financial literacy
