Public universities in Kenya will benefit from a Sh9.5 billion ($73.31 million) loan from the African Development Fund-the concessional lending arm of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), aimed at strengthening science and technology education.
Implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education, this financing marks the second phase of the Support for Higher Education, Science and Technology (HEST) Project.
The initiative will modernise 19 public universities by equipping them with advanced laboratories, updated teaching tools, and improved digital learning infrastructure.
Three engineering centres of excellence and a science and technology park will also be established, providing spaces where students and researchers can transform innovative ideas into practical business and industrial solutions.
‘For many, education remains the surest path to a better life,’ said Hendrina Doroba, Division Manager for Education and Skills Development at AfDB.
‘We’re helping Kenya’s young people gain the skills that employers need today-and the confidence to create their own jobs tomorrow.’
Similarly, the HEST II will fund scholarships for 103 university lecturers, provide retraining for academic staff in line with emerging technological needs, and implement a competency-based education system.
The initiative will also promote youth innovation and entrepreneurship by offering training, mentorship, and incubation support to more than 100 start-ups, providing young innovators with the necessary space and resources to grow their enterprises.
The first phase of the project, HEST I, launched in 2012, laid the groundwork by upgrading eight public universities, modernising laboratories, and enhancing engineering and applied science programmes. It also supported staff training, curriculum review, and stronger links between academia and industry.
The second phase involves rolling out the initiative nationwide to ensure that all regions benefit from a more equitable, innovative and well-connected higher education system that supports Kenya’s Vision 2030 goals.
It is expected that the project will benefit over 20,000 students by 2030, including 8,000 young women, and generate approximately 5,000 direct and indirect jobs.