ITS-Davis Expands Role in Historic California–Kenya Climate and Trade Partnership

Building on the historic engagement earlier this year between Kenya and California, on September 24, California Governor Gavin Newsom and H.E. President William Ruto of Kenya signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to deepen cooperation on cutting pollution, advancing clean energy, and strengthening trade. The UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS-Davis) has been—and will continue to be—instrumental to these efforts, serving as the Secretariat for this partnership.

CA Governor Gavin Newsom, CalSTA Secretary Toks Omishakin and H.E. President WIlliam Ruto sign an MOU on Sept. 24, 2005 (credit: CA Gov Press Office)
CA Governor Gavin Newsom, CalSTA Secretary Toks Omishakin and H.E. President WIlliam Ruto sign an MOU on Sept. 24, 2005 (credit: CA Gov Press Office)

The new agreement highlights opportunities for collaboration across multiple fronts, from low-carbon development and clean energy innovation to integrated urban planning, agriculture and food security, public-private partnerships, and sustainable trade. For UC Davis, it reinforces ongoing engagement and pathway to impact with policymakers, planners, and practitioners in Africa, formalizing partnerships announced earlier this year to advance climate solutions and economic development across Africa through cutting-edge research and development.

Through the Global South Center for Clean Transportation, ITS-Davis has significantly expanded its capability in accelerating clean energy transitions and sustainable transport on the African continent. In April 2025, university leaders participated in the California–Africa Climate and Economic Forum, in conjunction with the Bay Area Council and the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), helping lay the groundwork for cross-continental cooperation. That momentum carried forward in August, when ITS-Davis announced the launch of the Africa Clean Transportation (ACT) Initiative in Nairobi, which will see the establishment of a Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Transportation in partnership with the Government of Kenya and African universities, with the aim of accelerating policy, technology, and finance pathways for zero-emission and equitable mobility. Later this fall, UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May will lead a delegation to Kenya to strengthen these ties and advance joint projects.

ITS-Davis Global South Center for Clean Transportation Director Aditya Ramji participates in a roundtable discussion with the government officials during a delegation visit to Africa in August 2025.
ITS-Davis Global South Center for Clean Transportation Director Aditya Ramji participates in a roundtable discussion  with the government officials during a delegation visit to Africa in August 2025.

“This partnership is about turning shared ambition into real impact,” said Aditya Ramji, Director of the Global South Center. “Through the ACT Initiative and the broader California–Kenya agreement, UC Davis is uniquely positioned to bring research, innovation, and training into action—benefiting communities in both Kenya and California."

Looking ahead, UC Davis will:

  • Support research and policy collaboration on clean energy transitions and climate adaptation between California and Kenya.
  • Partner on pilot projects across electric mobility, urban agriculture, green shipping and energy access.
  • Expand capacity building through student exchanges, fellowships, and training programs.

This partnership is a first-of-its kind—the first for California and Africa, bringing two economies on the frontlines of the climate crisis and economic growth, shaping the pathway for a new paradigm of international cooperation.

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About the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS-Davis)

ITS-Davis is the world’s leading university center on sustainable transportation, conducting cutting-edge research, informing policy, and training future leaders to create a more equitable, low-carbon transportation future.

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