Kenya’s government has intensified preparations for STRI4Society Week 2026 after convening senior officials, academics, business leaders and development partners at a stakeholders breakfast in Nairobi.
The meeting, organised by the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation, was aimed at building partnerships and attracting investment ahead of what officials describe as the country’s leading platform for science, technology, research and innovation.
The week-long event is due to be held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre and is expected to draw more than 5,000 participants, including policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs, investors and international delegates.
Shaukat Abdulrazak, the principal secretary for the department, said science and innovation would be central to Kenya’s economic ambitions.
“If Kenya is to leapfrog into a globally competitive economy, we must invest boldly in science, research and innovation and demonstrate real results from these investments,” he said.
He added that Kenya’s expanding network of universities and research institutions provided a strong base for scaling innovation, but said institutions must also show they can turn increased funding into measurable outcomes.
Officials said STRI4Society Week 2026 will be held under the theme “Igniting Innovation: Bridging Science and Society for Sustainable Development”.
The programme is expected to include policy discussions, keynote sessions, exhibitions and forums linking industry, universities and government. Organisers said youth participation would also be a priority, with STEM mentoring, innovation challenges and entrepreneurship initiatives planned.
David Ngigi said the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation remained committed to ensuring research and innovation met high standards and supported national development priorities.
Dickson Andala said stronger links were needed between research output and economic development, describing the event as an opportunity to move knowledge into policy and industry.
Tonny Omwansa said the summit could help connect innovators with investors, industry and policymakers in order to scale solutions to national challenges.
The government said the initiative aligned with Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, which aim to accelerate economic growth and job creation.
Organisers said the success of the summit would depend on sustained collaboration beyond the event itself, with sponsors, exhibitors and technical partners invited to participate.
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