Mount Kenya University (MKU) has officially launched the second cycle of the Vice-Chancellor’s Research and Innovation Grant 2024/2025.
This milestone follows a competitive and rigorous internal and external review process involving researchers from all 13 schools across the university. Following careful evaluation, 7 schools successfully secured grants to support their innovative projects.
This is the first time in MKU’s history that such a significant amount has been awarded for individual research projects—an impressive growth from the previous cap. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi, commended the Board of Directors for approving an increase of the research fund, reflecting MKU’s commitment to strengthening research capacity and output.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Research Affairs, Dr. Mercyline Kamande, congratulated the winners and emphasized that the grant is intended as a seed fund. She urged the researchers to demonstrate prudent financial management, tangible project outputs, and active involvement of postgraduate students, noting that building research capacity among students is key to nurturing the next generation of scholars.
Prof. Jaganyi further highlighted that MKU’s postgraduate student throughput has significantly improved, largely due to the reduction of bureaucratic hurdles within postgraduate processes, an initiative started in September 2023. He challenged the Directorate of Graduate Studies led by Dr. Samuel Karenga to strengthen supervision capacity and foster even higher postgraduate graduation rates.
He reiterated MKU’s strategic vision of embedding research as a core mandate for all academic staff, noting: “To whom much is given, much is expected.” He challenged the grant recipients to leverage the university grant as a platform to attract external research funding and publish in peer-reviewed indexed journals, thereby elevating MKU’s research profile both nationally and internationally. MKU highlighted the following significant achievements:
Africa Meets Bavaria Project
The event also celebrated 32 students who have benefitted from the Africa Meets Bavaria Project. Prof. Jaganyi encouraged them to be excellent ambassadors for MKU, urging them to seize opportunities during their exchange visits to innovation hubs in Bavaria between May and July 2025.
The project, led by Dr. Henry Yatich, with trainers Mr. Donatus Njoroge and Ms. Margaret Mwinji, is scheduled to run until 2026, expanding students’ global outlook and entrepreneurial skills.
Launch of the Annual Research Bulletin 2024
The university also unveiled the second edition of its Annual Research Bulletin (2024), showcasing MKU’s expanding research portfolio. Key highlights which were presented by Prof. Jesee Gitaka include: 73 grant applications submitted in 2024 alone, with 22 awards secured.
Dr. Henry Yatich, Principal of the College of Graduate Studies and Research, noted that the university is intensifying efforts to support research across all campuses and disciplines, including strengthening collaborations and enhancing research support structures. He particularly recognized the contributions of postdoctoral fellows, technical staff, research assistants, and support staff in achieving the university’s research objectives.
GFGP Gold Certification and Future Plans
In his closing remarks, Prof. Jaganyi announced that MKU, through the College of Graduate Studies and Research, is collaborating with the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) to pursue the Good Financial Grant Practice (GFGP) Gold Certification in 2025. APHRC has committed to supporting MKU by paying the initial subscription fee.
Achieving GFGP certification will elevate MKU’s capacity for international grant management and further establish its reputation as a leading research-driven institution.
MKU: A UNAI Hub for SDG 9
As MKU serves as the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) Hub for Sustainable Development Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), the Vice-Chancellor emphasized that current and future research initiatives must align with and contribute to the SDGs.
He called upon all faculty and staff to embrace research and innovation as central to the university’s mission of promoting sustainable development and positively impacting communities.
Recognition of Researchers
During the ceremony, 14 Principal Investigators and 7 Co-Investigators were formally recognized for their outstanding contributions and leadership in driving MKU’s research agenda forward. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration and Institutional Advancement, Prof. Peter Kirira observed that the finance division has been a key ecosystem contributor to the grant management and lauded the division for supporting researchers realize project objectives through seamless fund disbursements.
