Publicise research findings, Governor Lee Kinyanjui tells Egerton University

Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui has urged Egerton University to collaborate with smallholder farmers around the Njoro based-campus to boost food security.

Governor Kinyanjui said farmers and other communities around the university were not aware of the research that is conducted at the university.

"There is a need for the university to forge a deeper relationship with the community around Njoro campus to disseminate research information to boost food security," said Governor Kinyanjui.

He was speaking during the 44th graduation ceremony which was held virtually on Friday.

The county boss decried the low consumption level of research papers by public universities by the public.

"There are many research papers in our public universities but their consumption level by the general public is low, a clear indication of  a disconnect between universities, industries and communities," said Mr Kinyanjui.

He said a good research paper that does not reach its intended audience does not benefit the communities around it.

"I urge for better collaboration between Egerton University and the communities around agricultural research," said Mr Kinyanjui.

Fureign funding

He noted that many years of underfunding in research has resulted in public universities depending on foreign funding.

"The future of any nation that does not fund research and development is bleak," said Mr Kinyanjui.

He added: "Even in the current Covid-19 pandemic, some of the vaccines like AstraZeneca are products of universities like Oxford University."

He said since Nakuru Town has been elevated to a city, Egerton University should take advantage of the new status by setting up its Agro-industrial park to attract investors.

"The Agro-industrial Park could reduce the gap between university and industry, I challenge the university to ensure that this collaboration works as there are also opportunities, especially in research and innovation," he added. 

"We will be seeking to expand the boundaries of the city soon and this means the city will be even much closer to the university."

The governor said that the devolved unit was willing to collaborate with Egerton University on urban planning and mobility, urban agriculture and waste management solutions among other areas.

He said his administration will push for the enactment of legislation that will accelerate the vertical growth of the city and protect food security.

"Cities in Africa tend to grow horizontally and take up land that would otherwise be useful for agriculture as we have seen in the expansion of Nairobi where land under coffee and tea in Kiambu County has been converted into the concrete jungle and this is a major threat to food security."

Enact legislation

"As Nakuru becomes a city, we are conscious of these threats and we shall enact legislation to ensure we have a vertical growth of the city to protect food security," he said.

He said Nakuru recently joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and Egerton University, with its robust arts and culture background, could benefit from this collaboration

He urged the university management to embrace dialogue to avert disruption of academic programmes.

"There is a heavy cost on disruption of the academic calendar in universities, I urge management to embrace dialogue to avert unrest and resultant disruptions, dialogue breaks barriers and creates harmony," said Mr Kinyanjui.

Currently, the University Academic Staff Union members are on strike over a salary increase dispute.

Chancellor Narendra Raval urged the new graduates to use their skills to transform their lives and that of fellow Kenyans.

Vice-chancellor Prof Isaac Kibwage said the university will focus on learning, teaching and research that will positively impact humanity.

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