The government plans to construct ten science and technology industrial parks to enable scholars, innovators and enthusiasts actualize their dreams.
Principal Secretary (PS) State Department for University Education and Research Ambassador Simon Nabukwesi Wednesday said the parks are anchored on the government’s Four Big agenda and vision 2030 that aims to make the country an industrialized nation.
Amb Nabukwesi was speaking at Dedan Kimathi University of Science and Technology in Nyeri County during the official launch of the first national science and technology park in Kenya.
Nabukwesi who represented Education CS Prof George Magoha noted that the university had distinguished itself as a science and innovation hub.
“This is the university where ideas are in play, where there is a lot of support for scholars, for innovators and for enthusiasts who want to invent and innovate and improve in line with the Big Four agenda and the SDGs” Nabukwesi said.
The PS said that parks had propelled countries like China and Japan to industrialization where every industry is represented in the university adding that they have put shops and offices to tap and develop the inventions of scholars.
“They work with students practically so that they harness the best ideas of students,” the PS said.
He said scholars and students at Kimathi University had come up with products that have enhanced food security, innovations in science and technology and improvement in the health care.
He cited ventilators saying:“the ventilator I have seen here is very fine in terms of efficiency and fineness. I have looked at others and this one is ahead of the park.”
Nabukwesi further said that the pace had been set where young scholars and lecturers can innovate and be role models for others to emulate.
Speaking during the same occasion, Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga said that the Science and technology park will trigger a tremendous spillover effect adding that the products would be served in East and Central Africa.
Kahiga said his administration would put all the required infrastructure to make the park a success adding that it would help the country to achieve the Big Four agenda sooner rather than later.
Present during the function was Nyeri deputy governor Ms. Caroline Karugu, Nyeri town MP Wambugu Ngunjiri and members of the university council led by the vice chancellor Prof Ndirangu Kioni.
By Mwangi Gaitha
