President William Ruto has announced a Ksh4.5 billion Engineering and Science Complex at the University of Nairobi, funded jointly with France. The project was revealed during the Africa Forward Summit on May 11 alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.
The facility will be built on the university’s Chiromo Campus and is expected to serve as a regional hub for research and innovation. It will include communities focused on artificial intelligence, data science, green energy, sustainable chemistry, agriculture, health, and manufacturing.
Ruto said the investment aims to equip Kenyan youth with skills to compete globally. “We are investing in our youth to ensure they remain competitive in an ever-evolving technological landscape,” he stated.
The project has developed over several years. It was first conceived in 2015, advanced by a 2019 letter of intent during Macron’s initial Kenya visit, and supported by credit agreements in 2021. A design contract was awarded in December 2025 to Scope Design Systems.
