National ICT Research Capacity and Priorities for Cooperation - Republic of Kenya
National Priorities
To address the macroeconomic and social challenges and achieve the transformation to a knowledge-based economy, priority sectors in which ICT will be integrated to solve societal challenges have been identified.
The National Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Sector priorities outlined in the Media Term Plan for 2013 - 2017 are:
- Nanosciences, Material science, and New Product Technologies
- Space Science
- Energy
- Biotechnology and Biosciences
- Telecommunications, Electronics and Computers (TEC)
- Natural products and Indigenous Knowledge
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education
- Coordination of Technology, Innovation and Commercialisation
National ICT Research Priorities include: Network Design, Trustworthy ICT, Intelligent Information Management, Technology-Enhanced Learning, Wireless Technology and Mobile Applications, Digital Libraries and Digital Content, Open Source Technologies, eHealth, Remote Sensing and GIS, ICT for Agriculture and eTourism.
National Research Capacity
The table below provides an overview of universities with ICT/Engineering Courses:
| Institution | Location | Total Students | ICT/Engineering Department(s) | ICT/Engineering Teaching Staff | Undergraduate Students | Post-Graduate (Masters, PhD) |
| University of Nairobi | Nairobi | 58,188 | School of Mathematics; School of computing and informatics; School of Engineering | 45,466 | 12,000 | |
| Kenyatta University | Nairobi | 44,778 | School of Engineering & Technology | 59 | 38,514 | 6,264 |
| Moi University | Eldoret | 30,694 | School of engineering; School of information Sciences | 10 | 28,851 | 1,843 |
| Egerton University | Nakuru | 13,842 | Faculty of Science; Faculty of engineering and Technology; | 12,332 | 1,510 | |
| Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology | Juja | 23,200 | Civil engineering & geospatial engineering; Electronic and information engineering | 29 | 20,499 | 2,701 |
| Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology | Kakamega | 8,425 | Faculty of Science; Faculty of Engineering | 7,865 | 560 | |
| Maseno University | Kisumu | 8,444 | School of Science; School of Computing and Informatics | 7,166 | 1,278 | |
| Multimedia University of Kenya | Nairobi | 1,491 | Faculty of computing and IT; Faculty of Engineering | 1,491 | 0 | |
| Technical University of Mombasa | Mombasa | 2,419 | The Faculty of Engineering and Technology | 2,419 | 0 | |
| Technical University of Kenya | Nairobi | 3,644 | Faculty of engineering and built environment; Faculty of applied sciences and Technology | 3,644 | 0 | |
| Dedan Kimathi University of Technology | Nyeri | 3,774 | School of engineering; School of Computer Science and Information Technology | 3,651 | 123 | |
| Meru University of Science and Technology | Meru | 1,359 | Department of Communication and Information Technology; Department of Science, Mathematics & Engineering | 1,359 | 0 | |
| South Eastern Kenya University | 1,347 | School of Information and Communication Technology; School of Engineering and Technology | 1,289 | 58 | ||
| Strathmore University | Nairobi | 4,829 | Faculty of Information Technology | 12 | 2,273 | 335 |
| United States International University | Nairobi | 4,534 | School of Science and Technology | 10 | 3,809 | 725 |
| Mount Kenya University | Thika | 7,800 | School of pure and applied sciences | 7,265 | 535 | |
| Catholic University of East Africa | Nairobi | 6,247 | Faculty of Science | 5,717 | 530 | |
| Kenya Methodist University | Meru | 9,666 | Faculty of Computing and Informatics; Faculty of Science and Technology | 8,815 | 851 | |
| Daystar University | Nairobi | 3,747 | School of Science, Engineering and Health | 2,900 | 847 | |
| University of Eastern Africa-Baraton | Nandi | 2,200 | School of science and Technology | 2,065 | 135 | |
| KCA University | Nairobi | 6,400 | Faculty of Computing and Information Management | 21 | 6,200 | 200 |
The following universities and research centres are currently involved in ICT research in Kenya
University of Nairobi
- Departments include: School of Mathematics, School of Computing and Informatics, School of Engineering, FabLab
- Research areas include: Technology-Enhanced Learning, eHealth, Mobile Telephony applications, eAgriculture, eGovernment, Cloud Computing, CyberSecurity, Interoperability
- Funding agencies include: Google, Nokia, IDRC, World Bank, University of London, Rockefeller Foundation, Ford Foundation, Centre for Disease Control (CDC), NCSTI
Strathmore University
- Departments include: Faculty of Information Technology, @iLabAfrica
- Research areas include: Mobile Computing, Technology-Enhanced Learning & mLearning, eHealth, Machine Learning and Intelligent Systems, Open Source Technologies, ICT for Sustainable and Renewable Energy, eAccessibility, Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law, Applied Research in Mathematical Sciences
- Funding agencies include Hewlett Packard, The Internet Society, Google and Safaricom
- @iLabAfrica has extensive relationships in place with industry (Safaricom, Vodafone, Ericsson, Samsung, Google, Deloitte Consulting), foundations (Clinton Health Access Initiative, IDEA Foundation) and universities (IT University of Copenhagen, MIT, Moi University, Egerton University, Mombasa Polytechnic, JKUAT and Mbabara University, Uganda).
Moi University
- Departments include: School of Engineering, School of Information Sciences
- Research areas include: Parallel Computing / Cloud Computing, Software & Services, Advanced Data Mining & Machine Learning, eHealth, Sustainable Agriculture & Environment, eGovernment, Technology-Enhanced Learning
- Cooperation Agreements include with VLIR, Belgium
Egerton University
- Departments include: Faculty of Science, Faculty of Engineering & Technology
- Research areas include: Parallel Computing / Cloud Computing, Technology-enhanced Learning, Dam Monitoring System, County online Databank, BPO, VIdeo Conferencing Project
- Funding agencies include KVSA (Dam Monitoring project) and RUFORUM (eLearning project)
Kenyatta University
- Departments include: School of Engineering & Technology
- Research areas include: Technology-enhanced Learning, Mobile Applications, eGovernment, Cloud Computing, Software & Services
Maseno University
- Departments include: School of Science, School of Computing and Informatics
- Research areas include: Parallel Computing / Cloud Computing, Software & Services, Advanced data mining and Machine Learning, Mobile Applications
Kenya Methodist University
- Departments include: School of Computing
- Research areas include: eHealth, Technology-enhanced Learning, Open Source Software Applications, Mobile Telephony Applications
- Recent projects include: eHealth project (June 2011 - June 2014), eLearning project (June 2010 - June 2012), Open Source Software applications project (2011 - 2013), Mobile telephony applications (June 2011 - June 2014)
KCA University
- Departments include: Faculty of Computing and Information Management
- Research areas include: System dynamics simulation modelling, software process improvements, Requirements engineering, decision support systems, mobile computing
United States International University
- Research areas include: Information Systems
- Current ICT-related projects: eMoney for enhancing MDGS at bottom of the pyramid (Funding from Institute for Money, Technology & Financial Inclusion (IMTFI), University of California, Irvine - USD15,000); eBanking, Open Source Learning Applications, Agribusiness
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
- Departments include: Civil Engineering & Geospatial Engineering, Electronic and Information Engineering
- Research areas include: eAgriculture, Agri-food based applications, eAgriculture Farmer Voice Radio (FVR) project, Open Source Software Application, Cyber Security, Interoperability
- Funding institutions include America Institutes for Research (AIR)
Technical University of Mombasa (TUM)
- Departments include: Faculty of Engineering & Technology
- Research areas include: Mobile Applications, Parallel Computing / Cloud Computing, Software & Services
Technical University of Kenya (TUK)
- Departments include: Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology
- Research areas include: Mobile Applications, Parallel Computing / Cloud Computing, Software & Services
Multimedia University of Kenya
- Departments include: Faculty of Computing & IT, Faculty of Engineering
- Research areas include: Communication Technologies
Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DKUT)
- Departments include: School of Engineering, School of Computer Science and Information Technology
- Research areas include: Computing, Software and Services, Networks
Meru University of Science and Technology
- Departments include: Department of Communication and Information Technology; Department of Science, Mathematics & Engineering
- Research areas include: Computing, Software and Services, Networks
South Eastern Kenya University
- Departments include: School of Information and Communication Technology; School of Engineering and Technology
- Research areas include: Computing, Software and Services, Networks
Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation (KARLO)
- Research areas include: eAgriculture including Agri-food based applications; Sustainable Agriculture; Sensors & RFID to monitor livestock and wildlife; Land management; Food Security
Kenya Medical Research Institute
- Research areas include: eHealth, Open Source Software Applications
- Projects include: East Africa Disease Surveillance Network project (EAIDSNET) funded by East Africa Community and international partners, Strengthening data management for HIV/AIDS vaccine trails project funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in partnership with Hewlett Packard
ICT-39 Priority Themes
Based on consultation with stakeholders the following thematic areas are considered to be important in the context of the ICT-39 Call:
| Thematic Areas | Topics | Partners |
| eHealth | Health Information Systems/Electronic medical records; Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH); Early warning systems for transmittable diseases (e.g. malaria); Integrated surveillance system; | Kenya Medical Research Institute; Strathmore University; University of Nairobi (School of Computing); Moi University; Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology; USIU Africa (School of Science and Technology); Kabarak University |
| eAgriculture | Agri-food based applications; Sustainable Agriculture; Sensors & RFID to monitor livestock and wildlife; Land management; Food Security; Disaster Risks | Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology; Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation; Egerton University; USIU Africa (School of Business) ; University of Nairobi; Strathmore University; Moi University |
| Technology-enhanced Learning | Distance Learning; Personalised Learning; mLearning; Smart classrooms; Learning system to support disabled people & training for health professionals; Entrepreneurship | Strathmore University; USIS (School of Science and Technology); University of Nairobi (School of Computing); Technical University of Kenya (Department of Computer Science and Technology); Dedan Kimathi University of Technology |
| eGovernment | Public Service delivery, mGovernment | Moi University (Department of Information Technology); University of Nairobi (School of Computing); Strathmore University |
Mapping to H2020 Themes
The initial mapping to Horizon 2020 Research areas is summarised below:
| Horizon 2020 Industrial Leadership | Institution, Relevant Dept and Research area |
| Components and Systems | Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) (Department of Computing, IT department, Telecommunication): Smart Systems; KCA University (Faculty of Computing and Information Management): Modelling of complex systems; University of Nairobi (School of Computing): Technologies for IoT, Modelling of complex systems; Strathmore University (@iLabAfrica ICT Research and Innovation Centre): Smart Embedded Components and Systems, Smart Integrated Systems |
| Advanced Computing | University of Nairobi (School of Computing): Processor and System Architecture, Parallel Computing and Simulation Software; Strathmore University (@iLabAfrica ICT Research and Innovation Centre): Processor and System Architecture, Interconnect and Data Localisation Technologies; Moi University (Department of Information Technology): Parallel Computing; Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) (Department of Computing, IT Department, Telecommunication): Simulation and modelling; KCA University (Faculty of Computing and Information Management): Simulation software |
| Future Internet | KCA University (Faculty of Computing and Information Management): Networks, cyber security; Strathmore University (@iLabAfrica ICT Research and Innovation Centre): Networks, Software and Services, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security; Moi University (Department of Information Technology): Software and services, cloud Computing; University of Nairobi (School of Computing): Software and services, cloud computing, Cyber Security, Privacy and Trust, Wireless Communication; KENET: Networks, Future Internet, Cloud Computing; United States International University (USIU); |
| Content Technologies & Information Management | Moi University (Department of Information Technology): Advanced data mining and Machine Learning; Strathmore University (@iLabAfrica ICT Research and Innovation Centre): Machine Learning; Content Access and Analytics; Big Data Technologies; Advanced Data Mining; University of Nairobi (School of Computing) Machine Learning; Content Access and Analytics; Big Data Technologies; Advanced Data Mining; KCA University (Faculty of Computing and Information Management): Content Technologies and Information Management |
| Horizon 2020 Societal Challenges | Institution, Relevant Dept and Research area |
| Health | University of Nairobi (School of Computing/Medical School): eHealth, improved diagnosis, healthcare provision; Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) (Department of Computing, IT Department, Telecommunication): eHealth, improved diagnosis; Strathmore University (@iLabAfrica ICT Research and Innovation Centre): health data collection, Healthcare Provision and Integrated Care; Moi University (Department of Information Technology): eHealth, Independent and assisted living, integrated health care; Kenya Medical Research Institute: Screening and management of diseases; Integrated health care; USIS Africa (School of Science and Technology): eHealth models, Early warning systems |
| Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture | Moi University (Department of Information Technology): Sustainable agriculture and Environment; University of Nairobi: Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture, Bio-Economy; Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) (Department of Computing, IT Department, Telecommunication): Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry; Sustainable and Competitive Agri-food Sector for a Safe and Healthy Diet; Strathmore University (@iLabAfrica ICT Research and Innovation Centre): Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry; Sustainable and Competitive Agri-food Sector for a Safe and Healthy Diet.; USIS Africa (School of Business): Agri-business and Entrepreneurship; Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation: Agri-food based applications; Sustainable Agriculture; Food Security; Egerton University |
| Secure, Clean and Efficient Energy | Strathmore University (@iLabAfrica ICT Research and Innovation Centre): Energy Efficient buildings, Alternative Fuels and Mobile Energy Sources; Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) (Department of Computing, IT Department, Telecommunication): Smart metering, Robust Decision Making; University of Nairobi (School of Computing): Smart metering, Robust Decision Making.; Moi University |
| Smart, Green and Integrated Transport | Strathmore University (@iLabAfrica ICT Research and Innovation Centre): Socio-Economic Research and Forward Looking Activities for Policy Making; Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) - (Department of Computing, IT Department, Telecommunication): Smart Transport Equipment, Infrastructures and Services; University of Nairobi (School of Computing): Smart Transport Equipment, Infrastructures and Services; Innovative Transport Management Systems |
| Inclusive, Innovative and Reflective Societies | Strathmore University (@iLabAfrica ICT Research and Innovation Centre): Digital Inclusion; Social Innovation Platforms, eGovernment Services, eSkills, eLearning, eCulture; Moi University |
Level of Research Maturity
Kenya has a vibrant research community and good track record in collaborative research with participation in 69 projects and securing research funding of over € 12.3 million under FP7. Kenya - like a number of other IST-Africa Partner Countries is actively trying to develop a national software sector and attract Foreign Direct Investment, reinforcing the drive for innovation. The country is positioning itself as a regional hub for East Africa, which is facilitated by Nairobi's importance as an airline hub.
During the first year of Horizon 2020, Kenyan organisations have secured participation in eight Horizon 2020 projects across a number of thematic areas and two projects under ICT-39-2015 (mHealth4Afrika and ist4land).
While the current primary focus is on technology adoption and developing applications, there is a strong policy focus on further strengthening the research capacity within the country, and especially in facilitating the continued development of post-graduate programmes and involvement in cross-border research.
The research capacity of the institutions mentioned in this report was validated through a study carried out during project activities. Template profiles were circulated to most of the public and private universities and research organisations. This was followed up by email and telephone communicatios for clarifications. A special focus was given to universities with well established ICT/Engineering departments, postgraduate programmes and good research track record from MOEST's point of view. A case in point is University of Nairobi as a public university and Strathmore as a Private University.