The Directorate of Research and Development aims at achieving timely quality research output. To achieve the set goal, the Directorate is committed to writing competitive proposals to solicit funds for research activities. In relation to this, the Directorate has already received grants worth around Ksh.120 million for 3 distinct proposals and aims to get more funding in 2016.
Currently, five projects are ongoing at the Research Centre, 4 projects for MSc. Level and 1 project for PhD level by Mr. Lenny Mwagandi Chimbevo, Lecturer, and Medical School. In addition, more than 5 students from School of Pharmacy have conducted their respective undergraduate projects at the facility this year. The number of MKU staff members and MSc. students utilizing Research Centre is expected to go even higher in 2016 as the university continues to cultivate research culture through research sensitization throughout all its campuses, workshops and training’s, supporting staffs to attend both local and international conferences and formulating research policies such as Plagiarism policy and balance between teaching and research to Mount Kenya University academic staff members.
Ongoing Research Activities Year 2025:
| No. | PI | Title | Amount | Funder | Duration |
| 1. | Prof Eizo Takashima
Dr. Bernard Kanoi Dr. Jesse Gitaka |
Development of Anopheles stephensi exposure specific sero-biomarkers | 3,000,000, JPY | Terumo Foundation | 2025-2026 |
| 2. | Dr Paul Oshule, Dr Samuel Karenga & Dr Sylvia Maina
(Medical School & SPAS) |
Seaweeds innovations for sustainable products: Innovative steps for utilizing seaweeds along Kenya’s coast as a source of sustainable food and health-promoting bioactive components | USD 80,000 | ICIPE | 2024-2025 |
| 3. | Prof. Peter Wanderi & Mr Bonface Joel Malala
(SOE,SPAS) |
STEP Sustainable Entrepreneurship Courses for Under- and Postgraduate Students | Ksh 11,000,000 | DAAD | 2024-2027 |
| 4. | Dr. Henry Yatich & Dr. Peter Kirira
(SPAS &SBE) |
Erasmus+ Mobility Grant | Ksh 13,000,000 | EU | 2024-2029 |
| 5. | Dr. Mercyline Kamande | 6,000 USD | 2024-2025 | ||
| 6. | Dr. Francis Makokha | Experiences of prostate cancer survivors in Kenya | USD 27500 | Mayo Clinic | 2024-2025 |
| 7. | Dr Jesse Gitaka | Implementation Research on HPV DNA testing in Kenya | USD 80,000 | NIH | 2024 |
| 8. | Prof. Francis Muregi | Science communication | Ksh 2,400,000 | NRF | 2024 |
| 9. | Dr Henry Yatich and Dr Jared Onyancha | SOAP | ND | DAAD | 2024-2025 |
| 10. | Mr Bonface Joel Malala, Dr Francis Makokha & Dr Kevin Mbogo | Junior Research Grant | Ksh 680,000 | JICA | August
2024 |
| 11. | Dr Jesse Gitaka | Modeling the health impact and cost-effectiveness of malaria chemoprevention relative to scaling up malaria vaccines in Africa | USD 504,090 | Wellcome Trust | July 2024 |
| 12. | Donatus Njoroge
Dr Maria Mung’ara |
Unlocking low-income consumer behaviour | 199,689 Euro | Unilever | July 2024 |
| 13. | Dr Jesse Gitaka | Aifya: Using Large Language Models to Enhance Newborn Care in Bungoma County, Kenya | USD 99582 | USAID | June 2024 |
| 14. | Mr Donatus Njoroge | Strengthening Kenya Innovation Ecosystem (KIEP -SKIES Project) Funded by World Bank | Ksh 37M | World Bank | May 2024 |
| 15. | Dr Francis Makokha (PI/Lead) | Molecular and cellular underpinnings of placental malaria | USD 111,024 | NIH | 2024-2029 |
| 16. | Dr. Henry Yatich (PI/Lead)
Dr. Peter Kirira (Co-PI) |
ACCESS 2.0 (Consortium) | Ksh 4.5M | DAAD | 2025-2029 |
| 17. | Dr. Henry Yatich (PI/Lead)
Mr. Donatus Njoroge (Co-PI/Trainer) Ms. Margaret Mwinji (Co-PI/Trainer) |
Africa Meets Bavaria: Supports 30 students and 2 trainers-on Digital Product Innovation | Not Disclosed | Bavaria-TUM | 2024-2026 |
| 18. | Dr. Allan Mweke-Project lead, MKU | Advancement and adaptation of agricultural biologicals to meet sub-Saharan Africa smallholderfarmers’ needs and build sustainable food systems (AgBio4SSA)-Consortium | Ksh 30.0M | NRF Kenya and Swedesh Research Council | 2025-2028 |
| 19. | Dr. Allan Mweke-Project lead, MKU | Increasing Sustainability of Agribiologicals by Living Labs in sub-Saharan Africa ( INSALSA)-Consortium | Ksh 68M | European Biodiversity Partnership (Biodiversa+) | 2025-2028 |
| 20. | Dr Francis Makokha PI/Team Leader:
Caren Kamau (an MPH Student) – Co-Lead, Dr Jane Karimi-Project team Prof. Peter Wanderi-Project team |
Deeply depressed or reasonably distressed? Mental health, associated risk factors, and social needs of women before and after childbirth in Kajiado County, Kenya (MICK programme)
contracting ongoing |
SEK 94,000/Ksh. 1.14Million | Umea University | 2024/2026 |
| 21. | Dr. Bernard Kanoi PI/Team Leader:
Dr. Jesse Gitaka-Co-PI |
Evaluation of a Placenta-Specific Glycan as a Plasma Biomarker for Placental Malaria
(Subcontracting ongoing) |
CAN$ 40,000/ KES. 3.78 Million | Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology | 2024/2025 |
| 22. | Dr Francis Kobia and Prof. Jesse Gitaka | Molecular and cellular underpinnings of placental malaria | 111,024 USD | NIH | 2024-2029 |