Egerton University’s Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kibwage on 3 February 2022 hosted a team from the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) site assessment visit Committee and the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) for an assessment of the Main Campus to host the Regional Resource Centre (RRC). The team comprised of the Director General Dr Lawrence Banks and NACOSTI’s Director General Prof. Walter Oyawa.
On behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Josiah Omolo, the Institutional Principal Investigator (PI) of Egerton University gave a detailed presentation of a proposal to ICGEB and NACOSTI for consideration among its peers in the East African Universities to host the Regional Research Centre.
The Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kibwage with the the ICGEB Inspection Committee led by the Director General Dr Lawrence Banks and NACOSTI’s Director General Prof. Prof. Walter Oyawa during a tour of Egerton University’s lab on 3 Febrauary 2022.
Prof. Omolo, an Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry, noted that the RRC will focus on the areas in Molecular Plant Pathology and entomology; Genetic Bio- fortification; Molecular Plant Breeding; Development of Molecular diagnostic tools and their applications; Bioprospecting for biopesticides and bioactive compounds; and Food safety.
Three national agencies namely the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI), the National Research Fund (NRF) and the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) will facilitate research implemented by the proposed RRC through accreditation of the research ethics committee, issuing research permits, resource mobilisation and monitoring implementation of research and management of research.
The proposed RRC at Egerton University will engage with each of these organizations in science, technology and innovations (STI) facilitation, research management, resource mobilisation, and capacity building and partnership with the local industries, research system and international partners.
NACOSTI will facilitate the proposed RRC to form partnerships with institutions in the member states. In addition, at the regional level, the proposed RRC will work with agencies like the East African secretariat and Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) on collaborations, networks, recruitment of students and staff, training resource mobilization and to expand regional reach and impact.
The proposed RRC will work in collaboration with institutions from the member states in the region on the research focus areas and mentor the smaller Universities in Kenya.
Egerton University is currently implementing research projects and programmes, funded by various organizations in the following areas China-Kenya Joint Research on Gene Mining, Germplasm Innovation, New Variety and Advanced Production Techniques Demonstration of Main Crops; Molecular characterization of cassava viral diseases; Wheat rust selection and molecular breeding technology; Biofortification of rice and beans; Bioprospecting for biologically active natural compounds from Kenyan plants and microorganisms for control of crop pests and diseases; and Safe foods laboratory.
The proposed Agro-Industrial Park (referred to as Lord Egerton Agricity) at Egerton University is key in technology transfer to the industry to support the activities of the proposed RRC.
Other facilities available include Biochemistrty labs, chemistry labs located in the physical sciences building where the proposed ICGEB lab will be hosted. The team that developed the proposal as appointed by the acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Extension) Prof. Bockline Bebe are Prof. Josiah Omolo (Institutional PI), Prof. James Owuoche, Prof. Liu Gaoxiong, Dr. Miriam Charimbu, Dr. John Nduko, Dr. Joseph Mafurah, Dr. Pascal Okwiri, Dr. Elijah Lelmen, Dr. Kiplagat Ngeno, Dr. Joel Khobondo and Dr. Stephen Indieka.
