Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba with other leaders during the summit in Ghana on July 3, 2025/COURTESY 

President William Ruto has reaffirmed his commitment to increasing investment in science and innovation to meet the African Union's target of 1% of GDP for research and development. 

In a speech read on his behalf at the official opening of the ARISE-SD Scientific Conference in Accra, Ghana, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba said Kenya had already raised its research funding from 0.7% and was steadily working toward the 1% benchmark.

Ogamba emphasised that science, technology, and innovation are no longer optional but critical drivers of sustainable development, particularly for Africa. 

He noted that while Africa holds significant natural resources, including 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land and a youthful population, these assets must be matched with applied knowledge to realise their full potential.

“What we lack is not potential but applied knowledge, and this is what science, research, and innovation offer,” he stated.

He pointed to the AU Agenda 2063 and the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024–2034 as continental blueprints that underscore the urgency of scaling up investment in research. 

However, Ogamba lamented that the continent still lags, with an average of only 0.42% of GDP spent on R&D, far below the global average of 1.7%.

As part of Kenya’s efforts to reverse this trend, Ogamba announced the establishment of a full-fledged State Department for Science, Research and Innovation, tasked with spearheading national priorities in innovation and scientific development. 

He also highlighted Kenya’s hosting of the African Academy of Sciences as evidence of the country’s dedication to supporting African-led research.

"Our innovations in digital agriculture, climate-smart technologies, and fintech are already making a difference. But we must do more to ensure our knowledge translates into real impact,” he said.

Ogamba also urged African countries to treat research funding as a Pan-African priority and called for the creation of joint financing mechanisms to mobilise resources from governments, the private sector, and development partners. 

He advocated for stronger intra-African collaboration and global partnerships to enable knowledge exchange and research excellence.

Kenya, he said, stands ready to champion these efforts and has expressed willingness to host the next edition of the ARISE-SD conference.

"Let us forge a pact that is bold, African-owned, globally connected, and grounded in action,” Ogamba added.