Kenya-France Partnership Launches Ksh4.5 Billion Science Complex at UoN

President William Ruto unveiled a Ksh4.5 billion Engineering and Science Complex at the University of Nairobi, a landmark initiative co-financed by the French Development Agency and supported by the governments of both Kenya and France. The complex, located on the University’s Chiromo Campus, is poised to revolutionize Kenya’s approach to training future engineers and scientists, establishing the University of Nairobi as a leading center for research and innovation throughout Africa, as noted by President Ruto. “We are dedicating resources to our youth to ensure they can compete in a continuously changing technological environment. Through educational reforms, we are enabling young people to stay aligned with worldwide advancements in science and technology, enabling them to become creators and innovators instead of passive users,” the president stated in an official release. “To realize this objective, we are collaborating with France to establish the University of Nairobi Science and Engineering Complex. This center will function as a primary research facility for Kenya and the surrounding region.” President Ruto revealed this initiative alongside French President Emmanuel Macron during the Africa Forward Summit on May 11, occurring during Macron’s second State visit to Kenya. The concept for such a complex originated several years ago, first emerging in 2015 when the French Development Agency called upon African higher education institutions to submit proposals for creating science, technology, and innovation infrastructure. Progress accelerated in March 2019 when Macron initially visited Kenya, which resulted in the signing of a formal Letter of Intent, binding both governments to jointly推进 the ambitious engineering endeavor. Subsequent credit and grant agreements were established in October 2021. By 2022, supplementary agreements between the University of Nairobi, the Ministry of Education, and the National Treasury had created the complete financial and legal framework required. Following three years of development, technical assessments, and close academic collaboration with partner French higher education institutions, the architectural design contract was given to Scope Design Systems through an international competition concluded in December 2025. A binding agreement is now finalized, with its execution synchronized with the Africa Forward Summit, confirming that the project has advanced well beyond planning into definite implementation. The Engineering and Science Complex will feature Communities of Excellence covering innovation, Artificial Intelligence, data science, green energy, sustainable chemistry, agriculture, food security, health, manufacturing, and urban development. These communities aim to encourage interdisciplinary teamwork among students and researchers, strengthen connections with industry, and generate practical, locally developed solutions to Kenya’s most significant national and regional challenges. The President emphasized the long-term importance of this investment, declaring: “Our young people represent both today and tomorrow, and we are devoted to providing the groundwork they require to convert their concepts into practical solutions.”