By Eddah Waithaka
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Education, Hon. Julius Migos Ogamba, led a high-level delegation to the Duduville Campus of the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) on Wednesday, championing science and innovation as critical drivers for national and continental progress.
The visit spotlighted icipe’s groundbreaking scientific work and its pivotal role in nurturing Africa’s next generation of scientists through the Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (Rsif).
Cabinet Secretary Ogamba lauded icipe’s 55-year legacy of high-impact research. “We appreciate the high impact research that takes place at icipe and the output it produces,” he stated.
“As Kenya, we are proud to host icipe.”He specifically commended the centre for its competitive selection as the Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) for the PASET-Rsif initiative, a role it has held since 2018.
“I am also grateful to icipe for excellently managing the PASET-Rsif Programme,” Ogamba added.The Cabinet Secretary reiterated the Kenyan government’s firm commitment to its partnership with icipe, the only international organisation in the tropics dedicated to insect science.
He highlighted Kenya’s leadership within PASET, noting it was among the first countries to contribute $2 million to the fund in 2017. Due to high demand for scholarships, the government committed an additional $2 million this year, bringing its total investment to $4 million to support 41 PhD scholars.
“Quality education and research is key to Kenya’s economic planning and development,” Ogamba emphasized. “Going forward, we must link the outputs of research and human capital development to industry, policy and society.”
In response, icipe Director General Dr. Abdou Tenkouano underscored the centre’s mission to tackle Africa’s most pressing challenges. “We are at the forefront of addressing climate risk, biodiversity loss, poverty, hunger, and unemployment through insect-based science solutions,” he said.
Dr. Tenkouano confirmed that the PASET Governing Council extended icipe’s mandate to manage the Rsif programme for another three years starting in January 2026. “We are grateful for the trust that PASET and the government of Kenya have for icipe,” he said.
“We pledge our continued commitment.”He also framed icipe’s work as a form of science diplomacy, noting that its scholars—96% of whom complete their programs—become “Bonafide ambassadors of Kenya” as they return to their home countries with advanced degrees and a deep appreciation for Kenyan hospitality.
The delegation heard firsthand testimonies from PASET-Rsif scholar Joshua Cyprian William and alumna Dr. Ivy Okello, who detailed how strategic investments in higher education are directly cultivating a new wave of African innovators.
The visit concluded with a shared resolve from both leaders that strategic investments in science, research, and human capital are not optional, but essential for Africa to compete and thrive in the 21st century.
