Strathmore unveils Sh2bn STEM complex as Kenya pivots to skills-based learning

Strathmore breaks ground for the Sh2 billion Kevin O'Bryne STEM Complex to build Kenya's next generation of STEM professionals /STRATHMORE

Kenya’s push to build a skills-driven economy gained fresh momentum after Strathmore University unveiled a Sh2 billion complex aimed at accelerating STEM training and closing the country’s growing talent gap.

The project signals a deeper shift towards practical, industry-aligned learning under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system, as the country races to prepare young people for a technology-driven future.

On Tuesday, the university broke ground on the Kevin O’Byrne STEM Complex, positioning it as a hub for advanced learning, research and innovation in the continent.

Framed under the theme “STEM as the Next Frontier in Africa’s Future,” the groundbreaking brought together leaders from academia, industry and policy to examine how the continent can better equip its next generation.

Demand for STEM skills is rising sharply as economies lean into artificial intelligence, automation, data science and advanced engineering.

But Africa remains behind the curve, with fewer than a quarter of university students enrolled in STEM fields.

The new complex is designed to help close that gap by creating a fully integrated ecosystem for learning, research and innovation.

Students will be trained to solve real-world challenges across sectors such as energy, healthcare, finance and infrastructure.

"For Africa, investing in STEM is not optional. It is essential to build the skills, industries and digital infrastructure that will define our economic future,” I&M Bank regional CEO Kihara Maina said.

“Across the world, the most competitive economies are built on strong STEM foundations, where research, industry and talent development work together to drive innovation and growth."

The facility will house advanced computing, artificial intelligence and data science labs alongside engineering hubs and innovation centres.

It will also include collaborative learning spaces, maker labs and industry-linked research and incubation platforms aimed at turning ideas into practical solutions.

By bringing together academia, industry and global partners, the university seeks to shorten the path from classroom ideas to market-ready solutions, new enterprises and policy impact.

“With the Kevin O’Byrne STEM Complex, we are positioning ourselves at the forefront of Africa’s STEM future, not as spectators, but as builders shaping the ideas, innovations, and talent that will define the continent’s next chapter,” Strathmore University Pro Chancellor, Rev Dr Silvano Ochuodho said.

The push aligns closely with Kenya’s education reforms under the CBE system.

STEM sits at the centre of efforts to move beyond theory and equip learners with practical skills that match labour market needs.

The government is targeting at least 60 per cent of students to take up the pathway, underlining its role in driving economic growth and technological advancement.

Early data from the pioneer 1.13 million Grade 9 cohort shows the direction of travel. About 49 per cent of learners have been placed in the STEM pathway, making it the largest group transitioning to senior school.

In comparison, 40 per cent are pursuing Social Sciences, while 11 per cent have opted for Arts and Sports.

Countries that have invested consistently in STEM have built strong industrial and technology bases.

For Kenya and much of Africa, the gap is not just in infrastructure, but in the scale and consistency of that investment — something projects like this aim to address as the region works to build its own pipeline of engineers, scientists and innovators.

“As industry, we have a responsibility to partner with institutions like Strathmore University to nurture this talent and ensure that innovation translates into real opportunity and shared prosperity,” Kihara added.

The groundbreaking marks the start of a long-term effort to strengthen Africa’s knowledge economy, while positioning Kenya as a STEM-driven talent hub for the future.