Kenyatta University recently hosted a brief but impactful courtesy call by Prof. Patrick Okori, Executive Secretary of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture. The engagement highlighted the importance of strengthening postgraduate education, research collaboration, and innovation across African universities.
The Vice Chancellor was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Outreach, Prof. Caroline Thoruwa. Also present were Prof. Michael Gicheru, Executive Dean of the Graduate School, and Prof. Maina Mwangi, Executive Dean of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.
Reflecting on his previous visit to the University 21 years ago, Prof. Okori commended the remarkable growth and transformation achieved over the years. He noted that his visit was centred on three key priorities, foremost among them being the need to reconnect with foundational partnerships aimed at strengthening postgraduate education across Africa.
He referenced a landmark initiative supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, which brought together a network of African universities to enhance postgraduate training. Kenyan institutions involved included Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Egerton University, and Moi University, alongside regional counterparts such as Makerere University, University of Zimbabwe, and University of Malawi. He observed that the initiative, launched in 2002, significantly strengthened master’s programmes during its first decade, followed by notable improvements in doctoral training in the subsequent years.
Prof. Okori further underscored RUFORUM’s commitment to advancing Africa’s science agenda through its alignment with the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa. He noted that the organisation continues to support universities in building research capacity, fostering innovation, and addressing continental development challenges.
He also raised concern over wealth and job transitions, pointing out that many African economies have yet to fully absorb university graduates into meaningful employment. This, he noted, calls for a deliberate shift in how universities design programmes to better align with labour market demands. Additionally, he highlighted the changing landscape of higher education funding, where declining foreign support has compelled governments to make difficult choices between investing in education and other critical sectors such as healthcare. He added that RUFORUM is engaging institutions such as Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and University of Nairobi in similar discussions.
From the University’s perspective, Prof. Maina Mwangi noted that the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences has maintained longstanding engagement with RUFORUM, contributing to the growth of postgraduate programmes. He emphasised the importance of institutions developing a clear niche to strengthen their academic identity and impact.
Prof. Michael Gicheru echoed these sentiments, advocating for focused research areas rather than fragmented efforts. He welcomed RUFORUM’s role in strengthening research and fostering collaboration across institutions.
In her remarks, Prof. Caroline Thoruwa observed that the discussions align closely with the University’s strategic priorities, particularly in research and innovation. She highlighted initiatives such as the Vice Chancellor’s research grant, which supports staff in advancing scholarly work. She also noted the significant progress made in achieving gender balance within postgraduate programmes, citing a steady and encouraging increase over the years.
In closing, Prof. Okori urged universities to prioritise the development of safeguarding policies to support women in postgraduate studies, alongside strengthening data management frameworks. The engagement reaffirmed the critical role of partnerships, strategic focus, and inclusive policies in shaping a resilient and globally competitive higher education sector in Africa.