NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - KENYA

Science, technology and innovation are central to the success of national development policies and programmes. Science and technology have provided the essential means by which nation's have facilitated their development activities. As such, economic, social and cultural developments go hand in hand with scientific and technological transformation in any nation. Consequently  science, technology and innovation policies often buttress the economic and social policies, thus synergistically contributing to the achievement of national development objectives.

From the early 18^th century, Kenya’s colonial government established a number of scientific research and development facilities mostly in agriculture and health sectors. These included the Scott Agricultural Laboratories in 1903, Coffee Research Services in 1908, Veterinary Research Laboratories in 1910 and Medical Research Laboratory in 1958. Similar efforts in other sectors were later made in the subsequent years.

After attaining independence in 1963, Kenya established other Science and Technology (S&T) institutions to integrate science and technology in the country’s priority development areas. This growth in institutions and activities in S&T led the post-independence Government to develop a mechanism through which the institutions and their activities could be coordinated and promoted. Thus in 1977, the Science and Technology Act, Cap 250 of the Laws of Kenya was enacted. The Act established Advisory Research Committees (ARCs) and the National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) to serve as advisory institutions to the Government on matters of science and technology.

The Advisory Research Committees did not take-off functionally thus leaving the task of providing advice to Government on matters of science and technology on the shoulder National Council for Science and Technology.