UoN launches Africa Centre for the Study of Russia

The University of Nairobi (UoN) has marked a new chapter in academic and diplomatic engagement with the launch of the Africa Centre for the Study of Russia, a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing research, dialogue and collaboration between Africa and the Russian Federation.

The Africa Centre for the Study of Russiaseeks to serve as a hub for African-led scholarship on Russia, fostering rigorous inquiry, policy engagement and cross-cultural understanding.

Kenyan distance stars rule road races across continents Athletics

Pamzo dedicates coach of the month honour to late wife as APS revival gathers pace Football

The launch, held on Wednesday at the Manu Chandaria Auditorium at UoN Towers, brought together diplomatic and academic leaders from Kenya, Russia, and other countries, alongside government officials, scholars, faculty members and students.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Kenya, His Excellency Ambassador Vsevolod Tkachenko described the launch as a long-awaited milestone following years of collaboration and formal partnership agreements between Russian academic institutions and UoN.

Tkachenko expressed optimism about the centre’s potential, saying it will inject fresh momentum into areas of academic interaction and enable researchers and students to explore the complex architecture of international relations.

“The centre will serve as a platform for frank and informed discourse on diplomacy, foreign policy and global affairs,” he said, emphasising its role in fostering unbiased understanding and intellectual engagement in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment.

The ambassador also highlighted the participation of leading Russian universities, including the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, the Institute of Asian and African Studies at Moscow State University, and the Centre for African Studies at the Higher School of Economics.

“These institutions are keen to share expertise, facilitate student and staff exchanges, and contribute to collaborative research across political, cultural, and economic domains,” he said.

Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing’Oei underscored the significance of the centre for Kenya’s foreign policy and bilateral relations with Russia.

He noted that the institution is among the few of its kind on the continent, serving as a platform for dialogue between Africa and the Russian Federation.

Sing’Oei highlighted the historic ties between Africa and Russia, tracing back to the era when the former Soviet Union supported African nations emerging from colonial rule through education, technical training and political cooperation.

He said these enduring links have fostered a spirit of solidarity, mutual respect and partnership, which continue to shape modern engagement between the two regions.

“The Africa Centre for the Study of Russia demonstrates a growing and deepening partnership between our countries, driven by shared values and aspirations for the socio-economic benefit of our people,” Sing’Oei said.

He also addressed contemporary challenges, emphasising Kenya’s wish for a peaceful resolution and noting efforts by the government and the Russian Embassy to support Kenyan families affected by the conflict.

At the university level, acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Enterprise, Leonida Kerubo, read the Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Hutchinson’s speech, describing the launch as a significant moment in the intellectual life of our university.

She explained that the centre is not merely an academic unit but a statement of scholarly intent, reflecting UoN’s commitment to internationalisation, intellectual independence and evidence-based research.

“The centre will provide a platform for collaborative research, informed policy discussions, and the cultivation of African-led perspectives, while positioning UoN as a trusted convener of global conversations,” she said.

Kerubo emphasised that Africa must produce its own scholarship on Russia and related global affairs, rather than relying solely on external interpretations.

Highlighting the university’s excitement, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Prof. Jack Odhiambo, welcomed the launch as an opportunity to strengthen academic and cultural exchanges.

He noted that the faculty, the largest within the university with 14 departments and approximately 15,000 students, will actively participate in the centre’s programmes.

“This initiative reflects UoN’s long history of fostering research and international partnerships, and will now expand to cover Russian studies in ways that enrich both Kenyan and African scholarship,” he said.

The centre is expected to have a far-reaching impact on research, education and diplomacy. By facilitating cross-border academic collaboration and creating opportunities for student and staff exchanges, it will enhance understanding of Russia’s role in global affairs and inform policy-making on the continent.

The dean noted that the launch comes at a time of global political realignment, making the centre a timely addition to Africa’s network of research and policy institutions.

He expressed confidence that the Africa Centre for the Study of Russia will grow into a distinguished forum of research excellence, diplomatic insight, and academic leadership, bridging continental scholarship with Russian expertise.

Its work is expected to contribute to evidence-based discourse, strengthen bilateral relations, and create a pipeline for future African researchers and diplomats engaged in Eurasian studies.