UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May led a delegation to Kenya this week to advance a landmark partnership between the State of California and the Government of Kenya focused on climate action, clean transportation, climate smart agriculture, public health and innovation. Chancellor May was joined by Samuel Assefa, director of the Governor\u2019s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, as well as several university representatives. The delegation was jointly organized by UC Davis Global Affairs, Institute of Transportation Studies and the Office of the Special Envoy on Climate of Kenya. \u00a0<\/p>\n
The delegation was comprised of Chancellor May and LeShelle May; Vice Chancellor for Research Professor Simon Atkinson; Dean of the College of Letters and Science Professor Estella Atekwana; Dean of the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing Professor Stephen Cavanagh; Dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Professor Ashley Stokes; Vice Provost and Dean of Global Affairs Professor Joanna Regulska; Associate Vice Provost for Global Affairs Dr. Michael Lazzara; Director of the Institute of Transportation Studies Professor Alissa Kendall; Director of the Global South Centre for Clean Transportation Aditya Ramji; and Assefa.<\/p>\n
The visit follows a historic\u00a0Memorandum of Understanding<\/a> (MOU) signed by California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin and Hon. Lee Kinyanjui, Kenya\u2019s Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry, in the presence of California Governor Gavin Newsom and Kenyan President William Ruto in September 2025. UC Davis, through the Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS-Davis<\/a>), was appointed Secretariat for the partnership. ITS-Davis\u2019s\u00a0Global South Center for Clean Transportation<\/a> will coordinate collaboration and ensure research expertise informs government priorities.<\/p>\n \u201cThis partnership positions UC Davis at the forefront of global climate and transportation innovation,\u201d\u00a0said Chancellor May.\u00a0\u201cBy connecting our research strengths with Kenya\u2019s emerging clean-tech sector, we can accelerate solutions that benefit both our regions and the planet.\u201d<\/p>\n A UC Davis delegation meets with ministers and representatives of the Kenyan Government. (Courtesy UC Davis)<\/p>\n Advancing the partnership<\/p>\n Throughout the week, Chancellor May met with senior leadership in President Ruto\u2019s administration, including those responsible for investment and trade, climate, agriculture, transportation, and education. Discussions focused on joint research, investment opportunities and strategies to scale solutions in specific sectors, including electric mobility, public transportation, plant breeding, livestock management, soil health and productivity, public health and community development, among others. This builds on a 30-year relationship of UC Davis collaborations in Kenya.<\/p>\n The delegation also visited its partner NGOs, such as the Human Needs Project and HEART, as well as potential academic partners, including the University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, and Strathmore University, to explore faculty collaboration, student exchanges, and innovation partnerships that will translate the MOU into on-the-ground action.\u00a0<\/p>\n Why Kenya? Why now?<\/p>\n