National research calls surprise Kenyan scientists

Academics in Kenya say that they were surprised earlier this month when the National Research Foundation—an organisation facing the axe earlier this year—issued its inaugural three calls for proposals.

The calls come five months after science and education minister Fred Matiang’i said the body would be disbanded and its functions taken over by the National Council for Science, Technology and Innovation.

The NRF was created by a 2013 Act of Parliament, but until this month had not issued any research funding calls. In May this year Matiang’i said its board, appointed late last year, would be dissolved as the organisation replicated functions performed by existing bodies, like Nacosti.