The Council profile

National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) is a statutory institution of the Government of Kenya established in 1977 by the Science and Technology Cap 250 of the Laws of Kenya. It has membership of twelve (12) eminent scientists, a number of Secretaries and the Secretary to Council as ex-officio members.

The Council is mandated to advise the Government of Kenya on all aspects of science and technology, including its application to national development; coordinate national science, technology and innovation (ST&I) policies; and promote and popularize science and technology nationally. The Science and Technology Act spells-out the functions of the Council and they can be summarized as follows:

a)	To advise the Government on all matters relating to national scientific research and technological activities;
b)	To formulate national S&T policies and prioritize research programmes;
c)	To coordinate and regulate all scientific, technological and research programm es;
d)	To guide the Government on the overall science and technology organizational arrangements and financial requirements including formation of new research institutes and soliciting funds from various sources;
e)	To commission research where and when necessary, document, store and disseminate science and technological research results and encourage their application;
f)	To facilitate the transfer of research findings and appropriate technology to all Kenyans in partnership with the public and private sector.

Organizational Structure

The Council is organized in committees, namely: Steering, Research and Specialist committees all of which is served by a Secretariat under the Secretary to Council. The Steering Committee elaborates the general science plan and coordinates the work of other committees of the Council while the Research Committee approves monitors and evaluates all research activities in the country thus ensuring that all scientific research undertaken in Kenya compliments the national interest. Additionally, the Committee administers a modest research grant supporting policy relevant research activities. The grant is accessed on a competitive basis. Specialist Committees provide advice on the programmes and projects required to implement the national research priorities arising from the national science policy in terms of their financial, human resource, infrastructure and facilities; and the dissemination, popularization and application of results of research. These committees promote and coordinate research activities in their respective science areas.

NCST Secretariat

The Secretariat facilitates the work of the Council and its committees. It is headed by Secretary to the Council supported by a hierarchy of Science Secretary cadres and officers in administration and financial accounting service units.

The Science Schedules - The Science and Technology Act indicates the scheduled sciences for which have been organized the specialist committees and the schedules that cater for them at the secretariat level – the Science Schedules. Each Science Schedule has the responsibility of generating advice on all aspects of research, science and technology policy for consideration by the respective specialist committee and the Council. There are eight (8) Science schedules each manned by various cadres of science secretaries who are specialists in the respective science areas. The following are the current Science schedules:

a) Agricultural and Allied Sciences Schedule,

b) Biological Sciences Schedule,

c) Environmental and Earth Science Schedule,

d) Health Sciences Schedule,

e) Industrial Sciences Schedule,

f) Information and Communication Sciences Schedule,

g) Physical and Nuclear Sciences Schedule, and

h) Social Sciences Schedule.

Research Coordination Division - The Research Coordination Unit is part of the technical arm of the Secretariat and responsible for generating advice on all aspects of research, science and technology policy.

Support Services - The Administration and Accounts Divisions provide administrative and financial support services to the technical arm of the secretariat. In terms of scientific information documentation, there is the Kenya Scientific Information and Documentation Centre KENSIDOC, a largely a referral information resource centre for the national scientific community. KENSIDOC exists to document scientific and technological literature and to enable the scientific research, and policy- and decision-making communities identify and access relevant literature on science and technology available in the country.

NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - KENYA

The Council profile