The government is ramping up efforts to make Kenya an innovation hub, announcing new incentives and funding to tap the potential of youth and researchers across the country. This push is headlined by the launch of the Presidential Innovation Awards to spotlight top innovations during Jamhuri Day festivities later this year.
Speaking during the opening of Kenya Innovation Week on Monday, President William Ruto said the goal is to “promote the achievement of innovation, value creation and competitive advantage.”
He explained the government has no choice but to leverage innovation to “unlock unprecedented opportunities” for growth and development.
He observed that this year’s edition will consider submissions from all counties, covering food security and agriculture, digital transformation, healthcare, entertainment and gaming, climate action and green energy.
The President said the Government is facilitating access to quality infrastructure, financing and training for youth to enhance inclusivity in innovation.
“We have no choice except to recognize innovation as a promising instrument for unlocking the doors of unprecedented opportunities,” he added.
The President observed that the youth play a pivotal role in driving innovation within the country’s economy, citing that youth-driven start-ups secured USD 700 million last year. This positioned Kenya as a leading investment hub in Africa.
For this reason, he went explained, the Government is deliberately promoting “the innovative mindset” from an early age through the competence-based curriculum. “The objective is to facilitate the rapid development of a sustainable pipeline of globally competitive innovators,” he added.
Present during this year’s edition were Patricia Scotland the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Cabinet Secretaries and various stakeholders.
