UoN don honoured as young outstanding researcher

A  youthful University of Nairobi lecturer has been awarded the National Young Outstanding Researcher at the inaugural Kenya National Research Festival.

Dr Socrates Majune, a 34-year-old,  was recognised at the research festival, hosted by the Kenya National Research Fund and other partners,  UK Aid and the British Council

The Award was presented to his sister Brenda Majune, who received it on his behalf,  by the Chairperson of the National Research Fund Professor Ratemo Michieka together with the UON Vice Chancellor Prof. Margaret Hutchinson.

Majune described the award as humbling adding that he was glad to be honoured as the National Outstanding Young Researcher.

"This is an appreciation of research skills built for over a decade, of course, with collaborations with researchers and opportunities offered by organizations," he said.

"For this reason, I am indebted to all my co-authors, my employer, the University of Nairobi, the WTO, AERC, AFEA, and organizations that have offered me opportunities in different roles. NRF, thank you very much for the recognition."

UON VC Hutchinson lauded Majune for the achievement saying the institution is proud of him for flying the University’s flag high. 

Majune was nominated by UON and after thorough vetting by the nominations committee, he was picked. 

He was the first Kenyan to join the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Young Professional Programme in 2022.

He also won the inaugural WTO 2020 Trade Economist Thematic Award after his paper “The Effect of Lockdown Policies on International Trade Flows from Developing Countries: Event Study Evidence from Kenya” emerged as the best among contestants that were drawn from all over the rhetorical world.

Head of Public Service Felix Koskei and Higher Education counterpart Beatrice Inyangala were present during the award.