Kibabii University’s Dr. Fred Simiyu, alongside four other scholars, has secured a £9,300.76 grant from the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) under the Stirling Social Science Impact Acceleration Account (SSSIAA). Dr. Simiyu is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Kiswahili and Other African Languages (KOAL) in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS). He also serves as the Chairman of CHAKITA, the national body dedicated to the promotion and advancement of Kiswahili.
The funded project, titled Strengthening Public Accountability through Language-Inclusive Audit Reporting, brings together a consortium of distinguished scholars including Dr. Fredrick Changwony of the University of Stirling, Prof. Chacha Mwita of Kenyatta University, Dr. Joel Tuwey of Moi University, and Prof. Lisa Evans of the University of Stirling.
The project will run from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2027. It builds on completed UK–Kenya collaborative research focusing on the translation, readability, and understandability of citizen audit reports. The new funding is intended to transform research findings into practical and policy-relevant outcomes that can enhance public accountability through accessible communication.
Dr. Fred Simiyu’s contribution to the project is expected to play a central role in strengthening its linguistic credibility and long-term impact. His responsibilities will include providing expert guidance on Kiswahili terminology, semantics, and clarity; supporting the validation of a bilingual accounting glossary to ensure linguistic accuracy and cultural appropriateness; assisting in dissemination and advocacy within Kiswahili-speaking academic, professional, and policy circles; and contributing to the promotion of Kiswahili as a language of governance, accountability, and technical public communication.