UoN and Kenyatta University top in research funding

The University of Nairobi receives Ksh537.95 million in terms of research funding, the highest at any institution of higher learning in the country, according to CPS Research International.

CPS further ranks Kenyatta University second with Moi University coming in at third. The two Universities receive Ksh456.59 million and Ksh302.12 million respectively. The rankings are based on funding for the year 2018-2019.

While public varsities dominate the top 10, the highest ranked private university is Strathmore University coming in at seventh for receiving Ksh100.80 million. Mount Kenya University is second among private universities and ninth overall with Aga Khan University following in third position, but ranked tenth overall most funded university in terms of research backing.

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Despite Universities receiving close to Ksh3.1 billion in research funding, the CPS research shows that the state of research financing in the country is progressing but still limited. “Kenyan universities are still progressing to reach world standards of research. … survey findings show that financial constraints, however, limit them from soaring to high levels as universities in developed countries.”

CPS also found that research in Kenyan varsities leans more towards science-related topics as against art-related subjects. This is attributed to the fact that most of the funding comes from government, which despite favouring science-related research also ends up limiting the scope of research for most universities.

The government’s research funding for Universities totals Ksh1.9 billion, with other businesses, Non Governmental Organisations and other donors giving nearly Ksh1.2 billion.

CBS recommends the integration of the private sector in a move towards realising the government’s Vision 2030 project. “in order to encourage increased research, the government could foster intensive collaboration by providing incentives to the private sector. … the government’s commitment to double research spending to 2% of GDP, as part of Vision 2030 – Kenya’s national economic development strategy – could help bring the private sector on board.”

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At the same time, funding is skewed towards public institutions. The study reveals that public universities and their constituent colleges received 80.3% of the total research funds while private universities received the remaining percentage of about 19.7%.

Top 20 Universities

1. University of Nairobi (UoN) – Ksh537.96 million
2. Kenyatta University (KU) – Ksh456.59 million
3. Moi University – Ksh302.12 million
4. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) – Ksh236.49 million
5. Egerton University – Ksh122.35 million
6. Maseno University- Ksh108.03
7. Strathmore University — Ksh100.80 million
8. Masinde Muliro University — Ksh90.57 million
9. Mount Kenya University (MKU) —  Ksh86.60 million
10. Aga Khan University — Ksh75 million
11. University of Eldoret — Ksh70.39 million 
12. United States International University (USIU) — Ksh56.00 
13. KCA University — Ksh51.70 million 
14. Technical University of Kenya (TUK) — Ksh50.05 million 
15. Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) — Ksh29.50 million 
16. South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) — Ksh27.21
17. Laikipia University — Ksh26.90 
18. Kisii University — Ksh26.59 million 
19. University of Kabianga — Ksh25.62 million
20. Management University of Africa (MUA) — Ksh25.50 million

Top Public Universities

1. UON
2. KU
3. Moi University
4. JKUAT
5. Egerton University
6. Maseno University
7. Masinde Muliro University of Science & Technology
8. University of Eldoret
9. TUK
10. SEKU

Top Private Universities

1. Strathmore University
2. Mount Kenya University
3. Aga Khan University
4. USIU
5. KCA University
6. CUEA
7. MUA
8. St. Paul’s University — Ksh24 million
9. Africa Nazarene University — Ksh23.77 million
10. Daystar University — Ksh22.8 million