London School of Economics explores renewed collaboration with the University of Nairobi
The Deputy President and the Vice-Chancellor, The London School of Economics and Political Science - LSE , Prof. Eric Neumayer and a delegation of the Executive Management team paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor-UoN , Prof. Ayub Gitau on Monday, 7th September 2026.
Climate Change, Sustainability, Democracy, Inequalities, and New Technologies were the priorities that the LSE delegation mentioned as their guiding pillars and catalyst to deepen collaboration, impact and enhance the multi-disciplinary approach. These were also the focus areas of discussion.
Prof. Ayub Gitau led the discussion, expressing his passion and sentiment on Economics, the vastness of social sciences, citing an example of a soon- to- be established centre of excellence on Transport economy that has had a multi-disciplinary approach.
Prof. Neumayer appreciated the overlap in interests between the two institutions and added the International Students and Staff mobility as part of the identified areas of collaboration and Health policy. He acknowledged that there is an existing collaboration between the two institutions, he recalled the visit by the President Larry and Faculty of LSE that visited and interacted with Faculty at UoN, late 2025, in November. He however clarified, that what the delegation came for was a new and enhanced collaboration agreement that will transform community and address global challenges through a multi-disciplinary approach.
Ben Plummer-Powell, Chief Philanthropy and Global Engagement Officer, highlighted some of the areas that the University of Nairobi and London School of Economics can collaborate on, ideas as co-applying for available research funding and grants in UK , joint resource mobilization, extending research to sample areas in Kenya or Africa through existing partnerships by both institutions within other partnership set-up.
The Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Prof. Jack Odhiambo who will lead the implementation process of the collaboration and include the other disciplines, welcomed the collaboration opportunity and pledged to lead the process to a fruitful partnership.
Quick wins from the discussion that were identified and that should be implemented through the renewed collaboration partnerships were AI, Climate Change, Sustainability, Health Policy, and inequalities. Both parties left optimistic and with a renewed sense of commitment to the pledges made during the meeting.
Present during the meeting was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Finance, Planning and Development, Prof. Josiah Aduda, The Director Research, Prof. Thomas Ochuku, Director Advancement and Institutional Development , Prof. George Abong’ , The Chair, Department of Earth and Climate Science, Prof. Maina Gichaba, the chair, Department of Economics, Prof. Martine Oleche, the Director, Corporate Affairs , Mr. John Orindi among the other UoN and LSE staff.
