Kenya marked a historic milestone in its scientific and innovation journey with the announcement of the establishment of the Grand Challenges Kenya Platform during the closing ceremony of the Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for Society Week 2026. The initiative signals the country’s strong commitment to supporting Kenyan-led innovations and accelerating homegrown solutions to pressing national and global challenges.

Speaking during the ceremony, Principal Secretary for the State Department of Science, Research and Innovation, Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, described the Grand Challenges Kenya Platform as a transformative initiative that will provide domestic scientific grant funding to Kenyan researchers, scientists, and innovators best positioned to solve local challenges through innovative solutions. Kenya now joins several African countries that have established national Grand Challenges platforms, positioning itself within a broader global innovation network. The announcement capped a week of discussions on science diplomacy, innovation financing, research commercialisation, and the role of technology in advancing Kenya’s development agenda.

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, H.E. Dr Musalia Mudavadi, welcomed the establishment of Grand Challenges Kenya as an important step in strengthening the country’s innovation ecosystem and advancing economic transformation through science, technology, and innovation. He also expressed appreciation to the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation) for supporting the initiative under the State Department and the National Research Fund Kenya (NRF-Kenya).

“The establishment of Grand Challenges Kenya is a significant milestone not only for Kenya, but for the broader African innovation ecosystem. By joining other African countries with national Grand Challenges platforms, Kenya is strengthening a growing movement that champions locally led innovation and invests in solutions designed by Africans for African challenges,” said Prof Tom Kariuki, CEO, SFA Foundation.

The platform is expected to officially launch in the coming months and will provide significant grant support to Kenyan innovators working on transformative, locally driven solutions. Through early-stage and scale-up funding opportunities, Grand Challenges Kenya aims to strengthen the country’s innovation ecosystem and accelerate ideas capable of improving lives and driving sustainable economic growth.