President William Ruto has declared that investing in science, technology, and innovation is crucial for Kenya's prosperity and global competitiveness, awarding charters to two key research institutions.

• The Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) have been awarded charters, becoming specialized degree-awarding institutions.
• President William Ruto highlighted South Korea as a development model, emphasizing their economic transformation built on strong research universities and a commitment to science.
• The government has established a State Department for Science, Research and Innovation and committed to allocating 2% of GDP to research and development.

President William Ruto has announced plans to establish a private laboratory on his farm, signaling a significant push to prioritize research and innovation in Kenya's development agenda.

• The laboratory is equipped with scientific equipment currently en route to Kenya.
• The announcement was made during the awarding of university charters to the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Universities on Thursday, May 14.
• The initiative aims to strengthen research capacity and produce knowledge addressing Kenya's health challenges, positioning the country as a regional hub for science, technology, and health research.

The Kenyan government is set to implement a nationwide wastewater surveillance system to monitor drug and alcohol abuse trends across all 47 counties.

• The system will institutionalize wastewater-based epidemiology as a national drug surveillance and early warning system.
• Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced the plans during the launch of a NACADA report in Nairobi on May 14.
• This technology-driven approach aims to detect emerging threats within weeks, with a focus on universities and colleges.