President William Ruto has established a new State Department under the Ministry of Education, appointing Prof. Abdulrazak Shaukat as the Principal Secretary for Science, Research, and Innovation.
This department has been carved out from the Higher Education docket, currently overseen by PS Beatrice Inyangala.
With this move, the Ministry of Education, headed by CS Julius Ogamba, now has three Principal Secretaries. The other two are Julius Bitok, who will manage the Basic Education Department, and Inyangala, who retains Higher Education. Bitok, previously the Immigration PS, has swapped positions with Belio Kipsang.
Prof. Shaukat, currently the Director for Africa at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), brings a wealth of experience in academia and scientific research. He previously served as CEO of the Kenya National Commission for Science, Technology, and Innovation (2008-2014) and held leadership roles at Umma University, Egerton University, and various national research institutions.
His academic credentials include an undergraduate degree from Egerton University, an MSc and PhD in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Aberdeen, UK, and a postdoctoral fellowship at Shimane University, Japan. He is also a Fellow of the World Academy of Sciences and the African Academy of Sciences.
The creation of the new department follows President Ruto’s remarks during the charter award ceremony at Riara University, where he emphasized the government’s commitment to making universities hubs of research and innovation.
“We must invest in research and development to unlock Kenya’s potential. This department will drive innovation and ensure we fully exploit opportunities in science and technology,” Ruto stated.
Education stakeholders have welcomed the move, expressing optimism that it will strengthen the country’s research and innovation ecosystem.
Source: https://uzalendonews.co.ke/ruto-creates-new-state-department-for-science-research-and-innovation/