Universities unite and pledge to lead policy influence from the front
On 15th January 2026, The University of Nairobi led by the acting Vice Chancellor hosted vice chancellors and hub leaders from partner universities for the Kenya Science Translation Hub.
The meeting’s objective was to sensitize the Vice-Chancellors on this vehicle that would drive change in policies on food systems and enhance awareness to other internal stakeholders on the hub’s planned activities. The Hub, which is an initiative of the AgriFose2030, was launched in October 2025 at UoN, to foster a sustained culture of integrating science translation in curricula and research. The hub will also catalyse and increase the influence of research findings to inform policies especially in the areas of food systems.
The University of Nairobi has been implementing AgriFose2030 for the last 10 years. Speaking during the event, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi, Prof. Margaret Hutchinson highlighted the Hub as an institution that resonates with the University’s key mandate of transforming society through research findings. She reiterated that, the hub, will train a new generation of scientist who are informed about policy through specialized courses in systematic review, science translation and theory of change methodology which was developed by the AgriFose2030. The hub is also equipping researchers to clearly articulate how scientific evidence leads directly to better policies and better practices that ensure food security and better lives which translate science to impact.
Contact:
Communications officer:
Esther Nekesa
University of Nairobi, Kenya
E-mail: enekesa@uonbi.ac.ke