A Sh580 million research facility at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) has opened its doors to students and researchers, creating a new centre for studies on water resources, aquatic life, health and environmental sustainability in the Lake Victoria region.
Located at Miyandhe, about 20 kilometres from Bondo town in Siaya County, the Blue Economy Research Hub was handed over to the university for use following its construction through national government funding.
JOOUST Vice Chancellor Prof Emily Akuno said the facility would give researchers from Kenya and other parts of the region a place to carry out scientific and social studies, develop new ideas and find solutions to challenges facing communities.
"I am pleased that, today, this facility has been handed over to us to open its doors for utilization by researchers. We have a good facility here in a serene environment that researchers from the country and the entire region can make use of to come up with innovations and technologies that improve lives," she said.
The hub has modern laboratories, conference rooms and accommodation facilities. It sits on a 70-acre waterfront site along Lake Victoria and was designed to attract both Kenyan and international researchers.
The facility also has a 45-bed research accommodation capacity, providing space for researchers who need to spend extended periods carrying out studies at the centre.
For JOOUST students, the hub will provide an opportunity to take part in practical research outside the classroom, with areas such as aquatic sciences, fisheries, environmental management and molecular research among the key fields expected to benefit.
The university's Blue Economy Institute supports postgraduate and post-doctoral research, consultancy, training and community outreach. Its location near Lake Victoria also gives researchers direct access to a major freshwater ecosystem for studies on water resources and sustainable use of aquatic resources.
President William Ruto officially commissioned the Blue Economy Research Hub in January 2023. During the commissioning, he challenged universities to turn research and innovation into practical solutions to problems facing the country, while pointing to the blue economy as an area with potential for sustainable development.
Prof Akuno said the hub's laboratories would also support health research and disease monitoring in the region through molecular testing.
“Our state- of the art laboratories are fitted with modern equipment that will conduct molecular research for various health facilities and help the government's surveillance on disease outbreaks," she said.
The facility's work comes as Kenya seeks to increase the contribution of water-based activities to the economy. The Kenya Vision 2030 scorecard shows that the blue economy's contribution to the country's GDP increased from 0.4 per cent in 2020 to 0.7 per cent in 2024, with coastal tourism, maritime transport and fisheries among the sectors driving the growth.
At JOOUST, the institute's work is centred on the sustainable use of ocean, lake and river resources, with a focus on supporting economic growth, jobs, livelihoods and the protection of aquatic ecosystems.
The research hub is expected to give students a chance to work alongside researchers on projects linked to real challenges affecting communities. It could also provide a platform for developing technologies and other innovations that can be applied by communities and industries.
However, Prof Akuno said the university would need further government support to ensure the facility operates at full capacity.
“Currently the hub is equipped courtesy of JOOST Vlir-IUC project, but we want to call on the State Department of Science Research and Innovation to hold our hands by investing in this facility for it to operate optimally," she stated.
JOOUST said the hub will also support studies on climate change, water management and environmental sustainability, further strengthening its role in blue economy research within the Lake Victoria Basin.