WAKHUNGU ANDANJE
May 15, 2026| As the Africa Forward Summit concluded in Nairobi on 14 May 2026, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the University of Nairobi, the University of Mayotte, and INRAE (France’s National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment). The agreement aims to enhance collaboration in higher education, research, and innovation.
The signing ceremony took place on the sidelines of the two-day summit, which focused on academic partnerships, innovation, and Kenya-France cooperation. The event brought together senior government officials, researchers, students, and private-sector partners to deepen ties in science, innovation, agriculture, energy, and sustainable development.
Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, Principal Secretary for the State Department of Higher Education in Kenya, witnessed the signing alongside French diplomat Éléonore Caroit. Dr. Inyangala described the agreement as a significant step for Kenya’s higher education sector and international academic collaboration.
“I am particularly delighted to witness the signing and strengthening of strategic partnerships between the University of Nairobi, the University of Mayotte, and INRAE,” Dr. Inyangala said. “This step will open new frontiers for research, innovation, student exchange, agribusiness development, and industrial collaboration within our higher education sector.”
The partnership is expected to support transformative initiatives, including those backed by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), such as an engineering and science complex and a pioneering industrial chair on energy. These projects align with Kenya’s broader goal of positioning itself as a continental hub for knowledge, technology, and innovation.
The MoU comes at a time when Kenya is implementing far-reaching reforms in university education. In 2025, the government launched the revised University Funding Model, which differentiates support based on student needs and program costs. Additionally, the ongoing implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and the related University Funding Framework (UFF) has pushed institutions to seek alternative revenue streams and international partnerships.
Kenyan universities have increasingly turned to bilateral research agreements to address funding shortfalls and declining enrolment in some traditional programs. According to the Commission for University Education (CUE), over 30 Kenyan universities had active international partnerships as of early 2026, with a growing focus on STEM, agritech, and renewable energy.
Dr. Inyangala further noted that universities in Africa must remain central to driving solutions, empowering youth, and advancing sustainable development. She praised the University of Nairobi for demonstrating leadership as a centre of academic excellence and international cooperation on the continent.
“Knowledge is the seed of transformation, and partnerships are the rain that make it grow,” she concluded.