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Create a conducive environment to Kenyan innovators – technological researchers tell government

Michael Ondoro, (standing right) innovator of Poseidon Pump System during the university's innovation week

By Peter Kombe

Innovators and researchers are calling on the government to create an enabling environment for innovators throughout the country to spur technological advancement.

Dr Michael Saulo a Technical University of Mombasa research scholar says innovation at the university is still low.

Speaking to the press in Mombasa on Thursday during the university’s innovation week, the researcher said the university is intending to open an innovation hub to accommodate upcoming technical experts.

“Technology is still low in this institution. We want to develop an innovation hub that will cater for the needs of our technical students” he said

He opines that the linkages between the technology industry and academia still remains weak in developing countries.

Dr. Saulo argues that the situation contradicts developed counties where technology is in line with academia.

“The linkage between technology industry and academia still remains low in developing countries” he says

He says the students have a potential of taking innovation to greater heights taking into consideration the innovations they have developed.

According to Dr Saulo the university gives seed funds to students’ innovators to spur up technology.

Dr Ioannis Tsipouridis, a Greek Renewable Consultant engineer is of the view that Africa is endowed with renewable resources that only require human exploration.

“There are renewable resources everywhere. We only need to explore them. Again the government should come in pump in more funds” Dr Ioannis noted

Dr Tsipouridis argued that it is the role of government to hugely pump in more seed funds to innovators saying it is a way of paying back to the society.

The Greek national is however opposed to the construction of a coal plant in Lamu County.

“I do not back in the construction of the coal plant in Lamu County. This will be catastrophic to the environment” he said

According to him, the Coal plant will end up devastating the environment.

He says “the Kenyan government should chip in and formulate regulatory frameworks geared at supporting innovators across the country”

Paul Akwabi, a student innovator and founder of Tech Kids Africa is of the opinion that dozens of kids are creative but funding is remains the biggest challenge.

Paul notes “Tech Kids Africa an online technology academy platform bringing together kids aged 7 to 18 years. Children as young as 12 years are able to develop a website”

On his part, Abraham Gatene, a bachelor of biotechnology student and innovator of a malaria repellent gadget says malaria will no longer be a problem to society.

 “I developed this app after I suffered Chikungunya. My aim is to ensure that Mombasa locals remain free on malaria and Chukingunya”

He further argues that he is determined to create employment opportunities to Kenyans.

Kenyan university students have been at the fore front in developing innovations that have received world acclaim.

The state department of ICT and Innovation is headed by Jerome Ochieng.



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