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By Victoria Musimbi
Nairobi, Kenya: The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) has unveiled a state-of-the-art Knowledge Hub in Nairobi as part of its 25th-anniversary celebrations, marking a major milestone in strengthening Africa’s research, innovation, and evidence-informed policymaking ecosystem.
The new facility is expected to serve as a regional center for collaboration, learning, and co-creation, bringing together researchers, policymakers, innovators, development partners, and communities to generate African-led solutions to the continent’s development challenges.
Beyond the launch itself, one story stood out: the journey of a young researcher who once watched field interviewers collect stories from his family in informal settlements and now works within the same institution, shaping research and policy across Africa.
From Korogocho to Research Leadership
Speaking during the launch, researcher Hiram Ndichu shared a personal journey that reflects the institution’s emphasis on mentorship, opportunity, and research capacity strengthening.
“When I first walked into the institution, I was overwhelmed – not by the excellence in the room, but by the journey that brought me here,” he said.
Ndichu grew up in the Korogocho informal settlement, where researchers conducting the Nairobi Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance System regularly visited households to collect health and demographic data.
“As a child, I used to see field interviewers interviewing my mother and collecting stories from the community. Today, I stand in the same institution where those stories are transformed into evidence and policies that shape lives across Africa,” he said.
His interest in research began after a close friend secured work as a field interviewer – an opportunity considered highly prestigious among young people in informal settlements at the time. “That sparked my curiosity. I even accompanied my friend during fieldwork to understand how research is conducted and how communities engage,” he said.
After completing high school, Ndichu applied for a field interviewer position in 2011 – a turning point in his life. The job enabled him to save for university, where he pursued a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Biotechnology, becoming the first graduate in his family. He later joined APHRC as a Research Officer under the Research and Related Capacity Strengthening program.
Ndichu said mentorship within the organization has been central to his growth, giving young researchers opportunities to lead and engage in high-level policy spaces. He recalled being entrusted to deliver a keynote address at a British High Commission workshop in the absence of senior researchers – an experience he described as transformative.
“That opportunity exposed me to the power of mentorship, collaboration, and institutional support. Research alone is not enough. Real impact comes when knowledge reaches the people and systems that can use it to create change,” he said.
He added that the institution continues to bridge the gap between science and society by making research more accessible and impactful. “As the organization marks 25 years, I am proud to be part of an institution that builds people, strengthens systems, and transforms lives. In the end, research is not just about knowledge – it is about impact.”
Building an African Knowledge System
Executive Director Catherine Kyobutungi said APHRC’s work over the past 25 years has focused on ensuring that scientific research directly informs policy, programming, and decision-making across Africa. “We conduct scientific research, but we also ensure that science is translated into decisions that impact lives,” she said.
Kyobutungi noted that the African-led and Africa-based research institution, operating in more than 40 countries, is working to transform the continent’s research and development ecosystem. She emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between governments, universities, research institutions, and communities to ensure research responds to real societal challenges.
“We do not want science for the sake of science. We want systems where academics, governments, and communities work together so that research has value beyond scientific journals,” she said.
She also highlighted efforts to make African science more visible through platforms that connect researchers, policymakers, and development partners. “For too long, Africa has been invisible in the global knowledge system. We want to build a knowledge ecosystem that puts Africa first and ensures African science benefits Africans,” she said.
Kyobutungi said the new Knowledge Hub will support collaboration, innovation, and evidence-informed policymaking across the continent.
Government Push for Research and Innovation
Speaking during the launch, Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, Principal Secretary for the State Department of Science, Research and Innovation, said the government is committed to strengthening Kenya’s research and innovation ecosystem through increased funding, partnerships, and policy support.
“We do not want research for the sake of research. We want innovation that addresses societal challenges, creates jobs, and supports economic growth,” he said.
He noted that the government is promoting collaboration between academia, industry, government, and development partners to accelerate innovation and the commercialization of research. Kenya currently spends about 0.78 percent of its GDP on research and innovation, with efforts underway to increase investment toward national and African Union targets.
He also stressed the importance of generating African-owned data and knowledge systems. “Nairobi is becoming a major African hub, and we must generate our own data. The only way to do that is through research,” he said. The government is also developing research repositories and a Science, Research, and Innovation Observatory to strengthen data generation, storage, and access.
Stakeholders at the launch described the Knowledge Hub as a significant step toward strengthening African-led research systems that respond to the continent’s development priorities. With its focus on collaboration, mentorship, and evidence-to-policy translation, the Hub positions APHRC as a key driver in shaping Africa’s future knowledge economy.
