Involving Stakeholders in Performance of Science Research Programs at Science for Africa Foundation, Nairobi City County, Kenya

This study investigated the influence of stakeholder involvement on the performance of science research programs, focusing on the Science for Africa (SFA) Foundation in Nairobi, Kenya. Anchored in Stakeholder Theory, alongside Resource-Based and Resource Dependency perspectives, the research examined how participatory monitoring and evaluation (M&E) practices shape program outcomes. Using a descriptive design, data were collected from a stratified sample of 235 individuals, with 196 valid responses (83.4% response rate). Quantitative analysis was conducted with SPSS version 25 and qualitative insights were analyzed using Nvivo. Findings indicate that stakeholder involvement significantly enhances program performance (M = 3.77, SD = 0.458). Engagement of funders, policymakers, researchers, and beneficiaries promoted accountability, strengthened knowledge co-production, and ensured alignment of research outputs with societal priorities. Incorporating diverse stakeholder perspectives within M&E frameworks fostered shared ownership of outcomes and improved the application of research findings. The study concludes that structured stakeholder engagement mechanisms are essential for the effectiveness and sustainability of science research programs. It recommends embedding inclusive participation within M&E systems to enhance transparency, responsiveness, and long-term impact. Further research should examine the longitudinal effects of stakeholder engagement and the role of digital tools in optimizing participatory evaluation processes. Key words: Stakeholders, Performance, Science Research Programs, Africa Foundation