{"id":115360,"date":"2025-05-21T15:03:30","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T15:03:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/index.php\/2025\/05\/21\/amb-kamau-roots-for-science-backed-decisions-as-he-accepts-honorary-doctorate-in-pretoria\/"},"modified":"2025-05-21T15:03:30","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T15:03:30","slug":"amb-kamau-roots-for-science-backed-decisions-as-he-accepts-honorary-doctorate-in-pretoria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/amb-kamau-roots-for-science-backed-decisions-as-he-accepts-honorary-doctorate-in-pretoria\/","title":{"rendered":"Amb Kamau roots for science-backed decisions as he accepts honorary doctorate in Pretoria"},"content":{"rendered":"
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NAIROBI, Kenya, May 21 \u2014 Kenya\u2019s immediate former Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Amb Macharia Kamau, has cautioned against the sidelining science in governance and public decision-making, warning that such exclusion poses a major threat to Africa\u2019s development.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Delivering his acceptance speech on Wednesday following the conferment of an honorary doctorate of science by the University of Pretoria, Amb Kamau emphasized the critical role of scientific knowledge in shaping sustainable and equitable futures. <\/p>\n

The veteran diplomat who served as the country\u2019s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, described science not just as a tool, but as \u201ca real and living force for good\u201d.<\/p>\n

Amb Kamua urged policymakers to embed science in policy formulation to help combat poverty, disease, climate change, and injustice.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere science is excluded from decision-making\u2014whether in our homes, our institutions, or our governments\u2014misinformation thrives, prejudice multiplies, and short-term thinking prevails,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Amb Kamau warned that Africa continues to suffer from chronic underinvestment in science and innovation\u2014a trend he termed a \u201cdevelopmental tragedy.\u201d <\/p>\n

Funding science <\/h2>\n

He called for urgent reversal of this pattern through better funding for universities, improved infrastructure, and access to global research networks.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe advancement of science is not a luxury for the wealthy. [Science] is a necessity for all humanity. It is not merely a national task. It is a global duty,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n

The former UN envoy and co-chair of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) process also raised concerns about the global erosion of civil liberties, populism, and the denial of evidence\u2014all of which threaten to undermine rational discourse and scientific advancement.<\/p>\n

The honorary degree, Amb Kamau noted, was not just a personal recognition, but a tribute to all those who supported his journey, including his parents, mentors, and the broader community of scientists and diplomats committed to global development.<\/p>\n

He urged the University\u2019s graduating class of 2025 to champion scientific values and uphold truth in public life.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not the end. This is a beginning. The world is waiting\u2014and it needs you more than ever,\u201d he told the graduates.<\/p>\n

The University of Pretoria conferred the award in recognition of Amb Kamau\u2019s decades-long contribution to international diplomacy, sustainable development, and the promotion of science-based policy.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 21 \u2014 Kenya\u2019s immediate former Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Amb Macharia Kamau, has cautioned against the sidelining science in governance and public decision-making, warning that such exclusion poses a major threat to Africa\u2019s development. Delivering his acceptance speech on Wednesday following the conferment of an honorary doctorate of science by the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-115360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","entry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115360","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=115360"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115360\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=115360"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=115360"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=115360"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}