The government recognizes the key role played by Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) in wealth creation and building human capital required for the transition to a knowledge driven economy. Vision 2030 proposes to intensify the application of ST&I to raise productivity and efficiency levels across the three pillars of national development. As a result, the Government is implementing the ST&I policy framework through the identification, acquisition, transfer, diffusion and application of relevant ST&I knowledge in all sectors of the economy.
The first Medium Term Plan (MTP) 2008-2012 was developed based on the challenges identified in vision 2030 and other policy documents. It was implemented through a coordinated action plan within the context of economic, social and political pillars of the economy. The development of capacities of the national innovation system has been fast tracked to ensure the competitiveness in the international technology market, based on the targeted programmes from the identified sectoral areas. However, more need to be done and as a result, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and its stakeholders have developed the Second MTP for 2013-2017 for the Science, Technology and Innovation sector. This Second MTP (2013-2017) proposes more strategic and bold programmes to address the persisting macroeconomic and social-economic challenges, facing the country.
The objective of the Second MTP is to achieve the transformation to a knowledge based economy that integrates ST&I in national production processes and create technology platforms essential for the development of products, processes and services in a wide range of sectors. The Second MTP provides for prioritization of ST&I programmes based on their potential impact and the existing gaps identified within the framework of Vision 2030, the ST&I policy and the First MTP 2008-2012.
I wish to appreciate and commend all stakeholders who participated in the compilation of this Second MTP. I further wish to reiterate the government’s commitment to provide an enabling environment for the successful implementation of this plan and call upon all partners to support the actualization of the programmes therein. The future can only get brighter.
God bless Kenya.
Prof. Jacob T. Kaimenyi, PhD, FICD, EBS
Cabinet Secretary,Ministry of Education, Science and Technology