Quality Early Childhood Education (ECE) lays the vital foundation for children's cognitive, emotional, and social development, yet governance and service delivery challenges continue to hinder access to quality learning, particularly across Kenya's Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs). @KIPPRAKENYA Policy Brief titled "Fixing Fragmented Governance: Aligning National and County Roles to Deliver Quality Early Childhood Education" highlights critical systemic hurdles, including severe teacher shortages, fragmented national-county coordination, unpredictable financing, inequitable teacher deployment, weak county implementation capacity, and persistent gaps in education data and monitoring systems. The severity of these challenges is starkly illustrated by alarming pupil-teacher ratios of 1:69 in Garissa, 1:54 in Wajir, and 1:42 in Mandera, which far exceed the national benchmark of 1:25 and underscore an urgent need for targeted teacher deployment and appropriate retention incentives. Read more kippra.or.ke/download/fixing… #ThinkingPolicyTogether #QualityEarlyChildhoodEducation

KIPPRA will hold a virtual policy seminar on Bridging Informality for Growth and Socio-Economic Contributions of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) on Thursday, 17th September 2026, 9:00am-10:00am. The policy seminar provides an interactive platform to discuss pertinent policy issues on the formalization of MSMEs. As of 2025 about 83.8% of the jobs in Kenya are in the informal sector, against government's medium-term target of growing formal sector jobs to 40% by 2027.  In 2016 MSMEs Survey revealed that only 5.7% of the MSMEs are registered, and only 21.1% are licensed.  Join the policy seminar using this link 👉rb.gy/30gvv8

KIPPRA hosted a team from the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT for discussions on strengthening collaboration under the CGIAR Policy Innovation Program. The that comprised of Dr Elisabetta Gotor and Dr Chun Song was received by the KIPPRA Executive Director Dr Eldah Onsomu. Discussions at the meeting focused on spatial analytics for policy, youth, nutrition and dietary diversity, and opportunities to support policy innovation in Kenya. Further, the teams also underscored the importance of generating robust empirical evidence to shape Kenya's long-term development agenda beyond 2030. Also in attendance at the strategic discussions were key KIPPRA's Head of Infrastructure and Economic Services Division, Dr James Gachanja,Head of Nutrition and Dietetics Division, Dr Hillary Wakhungu, and Head of Modelling Division Mr. Adan Shibia. KIPPRA and the Alliance are thrilled to deepen this partnership through impactful joint research, capacity building, and collaborative engagement events. #ThinkingPolicyTogether #FoodSecureFuture

The CBEM 2024 framework assesses six key areas affecting the growth and survival of MSEs: worksites & infrastructure, market environment, financial inclusion, technical capacity, governance & regulatory framework, and risk preparedness & management. The briefs highlight county-level constraints and policy interventions to support a more enabling environment for MSEs. 📚 Access the 47 County Policy Briefs 👉 kippra.or.ke/download/47-cbe… #CBEM2024 #MSEs #KIPPRA #CountyDevelopment #EvidenceBasedPolicy

KIPPRA hosted a public participation forum on its proposed Amendment Bill in Nairobi on 28 August 2026. The event was graced by the KIPPRA Board of Directors, led by Vice Chairperson Ms Christine Wanjala, and Executive Director, Dr Eldah Onsomu. The forum brought together more than 100 participants who shared their views on various aspects of the proposed Amendment Bill. The Bill seeks to align the Institute’s legal framework with the Constitution and the Mwongozo Code of Ethics and Guidelines for State Corporations. The engagement forms part of a broader consultative process through which KIPPRA is gathering views from stakeholders across the country. The feedback will inform the finalization of the proposed amendments before they are tabled in Parliament.

KIPPRA and the County Government of Bungoma today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen collaboration in policy research, knowledge generation and capacity building. The MOU was signed during a ceremony attended by Bungoma County Governor, H.E. Kenneth Lusaka, and KIPPRA Executive Director, Dr. Eldah Onsomu. The partnership provides a framework for the two institutions to collaborate in areas of mutual interest, with a focus on generating and applying evidence to inform policy formulation, planning and implementation at the county level. Speaking during the ceremony, Governor Lusaka welcomed the partnership, noting the importance of strengthening linkages between research institutions and county governments to support effective decision-making and improved service delivery to citizens. Dr. Onsomu reaffirmed KIPPRA’s commitment to working closely with county governments to strengthen their capacity to utilise research and evidence in addressing development challenges. She noted that effective policy decisions require reliable data, robust research and continuous engagement between policymakers and think tanks. The collaboration will provide opportunities for joint research, policy dialogues, workshops, knowledge sharing and capacity building, among other areas of mutual interest. It will also strengthen the translation of research findings into practical policy interventions that respond to the needs and priorities of Bungoma County.

KIPPRA continued the regional stakeholder engagements on its Amendment Bill, 2026 on Wednesday in Kakamega County. The KIPPRA team was led by KIPPRA Board Member, Mr Timothy Gakuu who was representing the Board Chair, Prof. Paul Wachana and Head of Productive Sector Dr Evens Ngénoh who was representing the Executive Director, Dr Eldah Onsomu. The public participation forum, which took place at the Kakamega Social Hall, targeted citizens from Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia and Vihiga counties .The event saw over 100 participants give their views on various aspects of the Amendment Bill, which is aimed at aligning the Institute’s legal instruments with the Constitution and the Mwongozo Code of Ethics. Before the start of the of the event, the KIPPRA team made a courtesy call on the Kakamega Deputy County Commissioner, Mr Samuel Mwangi, and the Deputy County Secretary and Chief Officer at the Office of the Governor, CPA Samson Otieno. The two leaders applauded KIPPRA’s work in driving evidence-based policy making in the country. On his part, Mr Gakuu and Dr Ngénoh registered their appreciation for the support and partnership of the Governor’s office in mobilizing participants. Stakeholders at the forum emphasized the importance of ensuring that the proposed amendments respond to the evolving needs of both levels of government and strengthen evidence-based policy research, planning, and decision-making for sustainable development. This engagement is part of a broader consultative process that will see KIPPRA gather views from across the country before finalizing the proposed amendments for tabling in Parliament. #KIPPRAAmendmentBill #PublicParticipation #ThinkingPolicyTogether

.@KIPPRAKENYA continued the regional stakeholder engagements on its Amendment Bill, 2026 and this time, the Board Chair, Prof. Paul Wachana and the Executive Director, Dr Eldah Onsomu, made a stop in Mombasa. The public participation forum, which took place at the Technical University of Mombasa on 17th August 20206, targeted citizens from Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Tana River, and Taita Taveta. The event saw participants give their views on various aspects of the Amendment Bill, which is aimed at aligning the Institute’s legal instruments with the Constitution and the Mwongozo Code of Ethics. Before the start of the of the event, the KIPPRA team made a courtesy call on the Mombasa County Commissioner, Mr Mohamed Noor Hassan, and the @Tum001Ke Vice Chancellor, Prof. Laila Abubakar. The two leaders applauded KIPPRA’s work in driving evidence-based policy making in the country. On their part, Prof, Wachana and Dr Onsomu registered their appreciation for the support and partnership of the Commissioner’s office in mobilizing participants and the university for hosting the event. The leaders also highlighted past collaboration activities and identified potential partnership opportunities.

KIPPRA today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Umma University to strengthen collaboration in research, knowledge generation and capacity building. The MOU was signed at Umma University’s Main Campus in Kajiado during a ceremony attended by KIPPRA Board Chairperson, Prof. Paul Wachana, KIPPRA Executive Director, Dr. Eldah Onsomu, and Umma University Deputy Vice Chancellor, Planning, Administration and Finance, Dr. Abdullah Ali. The partnership provides a framework for collaboration in areas of mutual interest, including joint research, workshops, capacity building and other knowledge-sharing initiatives. The collaboration is expected to strengthen linkages between research and academia, promote evidence-based policymaking and provide opportunities for knowledge exchange between the two institutions. Prof. Wachana and Dr. Onsomu reaffirmed KIPPRA’s commitment to partnerships that enhance research uptake and contribute to Kenya’s socio-economic development.

The @KIPPRAKENYA is in the process of collecting public views on its Amendment Bill, 2026. Today's forum covered the North Eastern region and was held at Garissa University. Before the session, a team of board directors and some staff paid a courtesy call on the Garissa County Governor, H.E Nathif Jama Adam, County Commissioner, Mr John Cheruiyot, and Garissa University VC, Prof. Ahmed Osman Warfa.

Forests are critical to Kenya’s economy and ecological stability, delivering vital ecosystem services that drive biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, water regulation, soil fertility, and sustainable livelihoods. However, persistent disconnects between forestry and agricultural production systems continue to hinder tree adoption, limiting potential climate and socio-economic gains. According to a recent @KIPPRAKENYA study, Bridging Forests and Farms: Accelerating Tree Adoption for Climate and Livelihood Gains, while Community Forest Associations (CFAs) have successfully broadened community participation in forest governance, their direct impact on on-farm tree planting remains restricted, correlating with a 28.4% reduction in on-farm adoption. Conversely, targeted interventions yield positive results: access to agricultural and forestry extension services increases tree adoption by 20.6%, while higher education levels among farmers boost adoption by 3.6%. Read more kippra.or.ke/download/buildi… #ThinkingPolicyTogether #climateaction

President William Ruto on the national conversation on beyond 2030: The constitution requires public participation. The new development plan is driven by the people. It is not a government project. The centre of economic growth is in Africa. Kenya has four advantages: Largest reserves of renewable energy, youngest population (leading the continent/world in 2050), largest emerging market, and largest reserves of uncultivated arable land. @KenyaVision2030 @Planning_Ke @KeTreasury #ThinkingPolicyTogether #Kenyaat100 #Beyond2030.

As we celebrate #InternationalYouthDay, @KIPPRAKENYA reaffirms its unwavering commitment to empowering youth with the critical skills and hands-on experience required to shape evidence-based policies that drive inclusive and transformative development. Through the flagship KIPPRA Young Professionals Programme, we are actively equipping the next generation of policy leaders to contribute meaningfully to Kenya’s policy-making process. By leveraging advanced economic tools of analysis and providing immersive practical experience, the programme significantly strengthens their capacity to undertake inclusive evidence-based policy research for informed decision making and sustainable economic future. Learn more about the programme kippra.or.ke/capacity-buildi… #ThinkingPolicyTogether #InternationalYouthDay #YouthEmpowerment #YouthLeadership

Prof. Anyang' Nyong'o: The conversation must be national and inclusive. It is not about the next election. A key lesson learnt from developed countries is that long term plans must not be disrupted by political cycles. @KenyaVision2030 @Planning_Ke @KeTreasury #ThinkingPolicyTogether #Kenyaat100 #Beyond2030.