6.1
Policy Objectives
The main objectives of science, technology and innovation (ST&I) are to create indigenous ST&I
capacities appropriate to national needs, priorities and resources, and to create an STI culture
whereby solutions to socio-cultural and economic problems of the individual, the community and the
nation are recognized and sought.
6.2
Link to National Vision
ST&I is one of the foundations for socio-economic transformation in the Kenya Vision 2030, enabling
creation of new knowledge which plays a central role in wealth creation, social welfare and
international competitiveness. At the economic front, STI will play a critical role in ensuring that
productivity growth occurs, and that the economy is progressively transformed into a knowledgebased economy. Universities and research institutions will be critical drivers of innovation systems and
the resultant developments in ST&I and application of knowledge, especially in biotechnology, value–
addition, manufacturing, and ICT.
This will lead to industrial and entrepreneurial development with new products and services, and
areas of economic growth. From a social development perspective, ST&I will be applied to provide
solutions that will enhance natural resource management for public safety, food security and poverty
alleviation as well as resolving human and animal health conflicts and developing a sustainable
tourism industry.
6.3
National Priority Sectors for ST&I Policy Interventions
The national sectors significant to achievement of national growth and development targets are
Agriculture and Rural development; Health and Life Sciences; Trade and Industry; Human Resource
Development; Physical Infrastructure; Energy; Environment and Natural Resource Management;
Information Communication Technology (ICT); and Space Science Technology. Specifically, the
following areas of innovation will be given a high priority: biotechnology; space science;
telecommunications, electronics and computers; and automobile and nuclear electricity.
6.4
Kenya National Innovation System (KNIS)
An innovation system essentially refers to the interactions among diverse group of actors involved in
the production, diffusion and use of new, and economically useful knowledge. An effective innovation
system is required for a country to harness the potential offered by modern science and technology
to its social and economic advantage. Kenya’s current innovation system lacks coordination among
the actors, is linear and fragmented, has limited linkages between academia, industry and
government; the academic curricula and graduate skill sets are not well-aligned to industry needs and,
has inadequate funding and support for innovations. Generally, it does not effectively serve critical
national needs. The government will therefore adopt a new Kenya national innovation system (KNIS)
to ensure that the education and research system (universities, TVET institutions, sector-based
research centres, national research and education network and schools), the business system (from
start-up informal businesses to large and multi-national companies), the intermediate organisations,
ST&I infrastructure (financial, information, IPR regime, regulatory, incubation centres, science and
technology parks, special economic zones, etc.) and framework conditions in which they operate
interact, dynamically and effectively respond to national needs of the stakeholders (consumer, private
sector and Government) , while continuously learning from these interactions.
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