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Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary | State Department for Science, Research and Innovation
MAY 18-22, 2026
KICC, Nairobi Kenya
STRI4SOCIETY WEEK 2026

Event Programme

Five days of keynotes, panels, breakout sessions and exhibitions at KICC, Nairobi — 18th to 22nd May 2026.

Day 1 — Opening Day

Registration · Welcome Remarks · Keynotes · Research Paper Sessions · STEM Mentorship

Monday 18th May 2026
Exhibitions open all day: 09:00 – 17:00  ·  Exhibition Hall
08:0009:00
Registration

Registration & Arrival

Main Foyer
09:0009:05
Welcome

Welcome Remarks

Plenary Hall
09:0509:15
Opening

Opening Remarks — Visioning of the STRI

Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, EBS — PS Science, Research & Innovation

Plenary Hall
09:1509:30
Keynote 1

From Potential to Impact: Guiding the Next Generation

Prof. Simone Severini — Distinguished Engineer, Google

Plenary Hall
09:3009:45
Keynote 2

STEM and Societal Dimensions of Technological Advancement

H.E. Caitríona Ingoldsby — Ambassador of Ireland to Kenya

Plenary Hall
09:5009:55
Announcements

Announcements and Breakaways

Plenary Hall
Parallel Breakout Sessions — choose your track
10:3017:00
Breakout Rooms Research

Research Paper Sessions and Posters

Breakout Rooms
Education Zone Mentorship

STEM Mentorship Session

Education Zone
10:3013:00
Side Event 1

Side Event 1

14:0016:00
Side Event 2

KIPPRE Side Event

Harriet Kinya

Day 2 — Official Opening

Presidential Opening · Masterplan Launch · Research Paper Sessions · Youth & Innovation Side Events

Tuesday 19th May 2026
Exhibitions open all day: 09:00 – 17:00  ·  Exhibition Hall
08:0009:00
Registration

Registration & Arrival

Main Foyer
09:0012:30
Official Opening

Official Opening Ceremony — H.E. the President of the Republic of Kenya

Launch of the Research Financing & Capacity Building Masterplan

Plenary Hall
12:3014:00
Break

Health Break & Lunch

14:0016:00
Research

Research Paper Sessions and Posters

Breakout Rooms
Parallel Side Events
14:0016:00
Side Event 3

Positioning Youth at the Core of Kenya's STRI Ecosystem

SCOKA — Ms. Everlyn Kimanthi & Ms. Christine Kariuki

Side Event 4

Huawei Innovation Session

Dr. Peter Ndegwa (CBS) — CEO, Safaricom

Day 3 — Science & Innovation

Keynotes · High-Level Panels · 6 Breakout Sessions · Networking Cocktail

Wednesday 20th May 2026
Exhibitions open all day: 09:00 – 17:00  ·  Exhibition Hall
08:0009:00
Registration

Registration & Arrival

Main Foyer
09:0009:30
Keynote 1

STRI for Society: Global and Local Evidence

Chair: Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi, CEO APHRC

Plenary Hall
09:3010:15
High-Level Panel 1

Rethinking Research and Innovation Funding in a Post-Aid Era

Plenary Hall
10:1510:30
Break

Health Break

Parallel Breakout Sessions — choose one room
10:3012:30
Room A Breakout 1

Research to Commercialisation: Pathways to Societal and Economic Impact

Room B Breakout 2

Science Diplomacy: Connecting Science, Partnerships and Global Impact

Room C Breakout 3

Research Resource Mobilization in the Post-Aid Era

12:3014:00
Break

Health Break & Lunch

14:0014:30
Keynote 2

Shaping Tomorrow's Scientist: How Technology is Transforming Pathways into STRI

Chair: Prof. Nicholas Ozor, Executive Director ATPS

Plenary Hall
14:3015:15
High-Level Panel 2

Establishing Inclusive and Impact-Oriented National Research and Innovation Systems

Plenary Hall
15:1515:30
Break

Transition Break

Parallel Breakout Sessions — choose one room
15:3017:00
Room A Breakout 4

Powering Kenya's Innovation Economy: The Role of Industry-Academia Partnerships

Room B Breakout 5

Science Communication and Public Trust in the Age of Misinformation

Room C Breakout 6

Bridging Indigenous Knowledge and Science Towards Sustainability and Climate Resilience

Day 4 — Workforce & Innovation

Keynote · High-Level Panels · Networking Roundtables · Side Events

Thursday 21st May 2026
Exhibitions open all day: 09:00 – 17:00  ·  Exhibition Hall
08:0009:00
Registration

Registration & Arrival

Main Foyer
09:0009:30
Keynote 3

Building the Future Workforce for Africa's Knowledge Economy

Dr. Juma Mukhwana, CBS — PS, State Department for Industry

Plenary Hall
09:3010:15
High-Level Panel 3

Technical and Vocational Education as a Catalyst for STEM Talent and Innovation

Plenary Hall
10:1510:30
Break

Health Break

10:3012:30
High-Level Panel 4

Science, Technology and Innovation for County-Level Development

Plenary Hall
12:3014:00
Break

Health Break & Lunch

Parallel Morning Breakout Sessions
10:3012:30
Shimba SFA Breakout

Science for Africa Foundation: Championing a New Strategy for Innovation Financing

Shimba Room
Lenana Side Event 4

National Research Fund (NRF) Launch & Dissemination — NRF AI

Lenana Room
12:3014:00
Break

Health Break & Lunch

Parallel Networking Roundtables — choose one room
14:0017:00
Room A Roundtable 1

NACOSTI – Research Institutions Roundtable

Room B Roundtable 2

EU Delegation (Horizon Europe) Sensitization Workshop

Room C Roundtable 3

Kenya Innovation Funders Forum

19:00Evening
Social

🍸 Networking Cocktail

KICC Lounge

Day 5 — Closing Day

Keynote · High-Level Panels · Resolutions & Awards · R&D Survey Launch · Closing Ceremony

Friday 22nd May 2026
08:0009:00
Registration

Registration & Arrival

Main Foyer
09:0009:30
Keynote 4

Why Science Must Work for Society

Nzioka Waita — Managing Director Africa Advisory at Tony Blair Institute

Plenary Hall
09:3010:15
High-Level Panel 5

Harnessing Emerging Technologies for Inclusive Growth

Plenary Hall
10:1511:00
High-Level Panel 6

From Policy to Practice: Turning Research, Policy and Innovation into Real-World Impact

Plenary Hall
11:0012:00
Ceremony

🏆 Resolutions, Awards Ceremony & Launch of R&D Survey

Plenary Hall
12:0012:30
Closing

Closing Remarks & Departure

Plenary Hall
12:3014:00
Lunch

Lunch & End of Programme

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