By Suleiman Mbatiah
The National Research Fund (NRF) will this month host the second edition of the Kenya National Research Festival at Egerton University, Njoro, with food security and climate change topping the agenda.
The five-day event, running from August 18 to 22, is expected to bring together researchers, farmers, policymakers, industry leaders and students to showcase innovations and shape policies that address Kenya’s pressing development challenges.
NRF Chief Executive Officer Prof. Dickson Andala said the festival seeks to move Kenya away from anecdotal decision-making and ground public policy on evidence and research.
“The conversations here will help shape responsive, evidence-informed policies that drive sustainable development and social equity,” he said.
Prof. Andala noted that the forum would highlight practical solutions to food insecurity, such as drought-resistant seed varieties, bio-fortification, indigenous knowledge systems, digitised markets, and youth- and women-led agribusiness ventures.
The festival will feature live demonstrations, field visits, case studies and exhibitions showcasing how research can be applied in vulnerable regions, especially arid and semi-arid lands.
Egerton University Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kibwage said the institution was well positioned to host the event, given its strong record in agricultural research.
“This partnership strengthens Egerton’s role as a hub for research excellence, particularly in agriculture and food security,” added Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academics, Research and Extension Prof. Bernard Aduda.
Prof. Aduda said the festival would give space to researchers from all levels—including TVET institutions, undergraduates, graduates, and postdocs—to present projects and engage with policymakers and industry players.
Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika welcomed the festival, saying it would encourage inter-county partnerships and promote long-term food and nutrition security strategies.
“Research is a disciplined journey that transforms curiosity into knowledge and knowledge into power,” she said, adding that her administration was prioritising innovation and partnerships in driving agricultural growth across all 55 wards.
Kihika said the festival would allow farmers and county officials to directly engage with new technologies and research findings.
Themed “Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security: Empowering Communities through Research, Science, Technology and Innovation”, the event will also cover climate change, nutrition, grassroots technology adoption and economic resilience.
Last year’s inaugural edition was held in Nairobi. Prof. Andala said moving this year’s festival to Nakuru was part of efforts to decentralise knowledge-sharing and bring research closer to communities.
The NRF was established under the Science, Technology and Innovation Act, 2013, with the mandate to mobilise and manage financial resources for research that advances science, technology and innovation.
Organisers said this year’s festival would attract thousands of participants and provide a national platform to connect research with practice, inform policy, and strengthen collaborations among academia, government, industry and communities.