KNAS operates through specialist committees which generate and provide Independent advisories on policy formulation with respect to emerging trends in all fields of sciences including the humanities and social sciences. This is done through committees which are convened by the Academy to study and compile Scientific Evidence and develop evidence based position papers for release to the Government and the general public.

Since its inception, the academy had been receiving Government grants as a line Item on the NCST Budget and as Current Grants to other Government agencies on the NACOSTI Budget. The repeal of the NCST Act Cap 250 of the Laws of Kenya led to the enactment of the National Science Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) through the ST&I Act in 2013, and transformed the NCST into NACOSTI.

This repeal adversely affected the Academy leaving it without any recognition and funding from the government.