Kenya’s public universities are poised to receive a major investment aimed at improving science, technology, and innovation training, following the approval of a Sh9.5 billion ($73.31 million) loan from the African Development Fund (AfDB).
This support comes under the second phase of the Higher Education, Science and Technology (HEST II) Project and is set to transform the learning experience for students across the country.
The AfDB, through its concessional lending arm, is partnering with the Ministry of Education to implement the initiative. HEST II will target 19 public universities, equipping them with modern laboratories, upgraded teaching materials, and advanced digital learning platforms.
In addition, the project will establish three engineering centres of excellence and a science and technology park, offering spaces where students and researchers can turn innovative ideas into practical business and industrial applications.
“For many, education remains the surest path to a better life,” said Hendrina Doroba, Division Manager for Education and Skills Development at AfDB. “We’re helping Kenya’s young people gain the skills that employers need today—and the confidence to create their own jobs tomorrow.”
HEST II will also fund scholarships for 103 university lecturers and provide retraining for academic staff to match the latest technological and industrial requirements.
Beyond formal education, the programme will encourage youth-led innovation and entrepreneurship by offering training, mentorship, and incubation support to over 100 start-ups, providing young innovators with the necessary resources and guidance to scale their ideas into viable businesses.
The first phase, HEST I, launched in 2012, laid the foundation for these reforms by upgrading laboratories, enhancing engineering and applied science programmes, and promoting stronger collaboration between universities and industry.
It also focused on staff development and curriculum reviews to align higher education with emerging economic needs.
HEST II aims to expand these benefits nationwide, ensuring that all regions have access to high-quality, modernised educational opportunities. By doing so, the initiative seeks to create a more inclusive, innovative, and competitive higher education system that supports Kenya’s Vision 2030 objectives.
The funding is expected to foster greater integration between academic research and industrial development while equipping students with the skills to drive economic growth and social progress.
Through these interventions, Kenya’s universities are set to become hubs of innovation, producing a workforce capable of meeting the demands of a rapidly changing global economy and nurturing a new generation of entrepreneurs and problem solvers.
