President Ruto awards charter to Bomet University

The President said the creation of a dedicated State Department for Science, Research, and Innovation anchors the national commitment to scale up Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) training, strengthen discovery, and convert ideas into enterprises. 

Speaking at State House, Nairobi, on Wednesday, when he awarded a charter to Bomet University, President Ruto stated that the government was determined to actualise the National Research Fund by increasing investment from 0.8 per cent to 2 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He pointed out that the move will progressively build a long-term Ksh.1 trillion research and innovation base in the next decade.

"This is not only about laboratories and publications; it is also about financing start-ups, commercialising innovation, and building a generation of scientists, engineers, and creators who will power the country’s next wave of economic transformation," he stated. 

The President noted that with the award of a charter, Bomet University becomes the 36th public university in Kenya to be chartered. 

He said the country now has 83 universities, serving nearly 630,000 students, a powerful affirmation of the government's national commitment to widen access and deepen quality in higher education.

"This expansion is aligned with our goal of ensuring that every qualified Kenyan has a fair opportunity to pursue university education and acquire skills for the modern economy," he noted. 

The President noted that Kenya’s education reforms are reshaping higher education anchored on fairness, accountability, and student success.