Innovators Win Top Honours in AFRICA-ai-JAPAN Poster Competition – Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

*Ruth Maina is awarded 1st prize by the Chair of Council, Dr. Micah Onsando and Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Ngumi.*

Three innovators from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) have been declared winners of the 2026 AFRICA-ai-JAPAN Project Poster Competition, with their innovations offering solutions in environmental sustainability, agriculture and food value addition.

The three were selected from 16 researchers and postgraduate students who presented innovative research projects addressing challenges in health, agriculture, manufacturing and environmental sustainability during the competition held at JKUAT on Friday, June 19, 2026.

The overall winner, Ruth Maina, a Lecturer in the Department of Marine Engineering and Maritime Operations, was recognized for developing an environmentally friendly oil absorbent from water hyacinth.

Her research demonstrated how cellulose extracted from the invasive aquatic plant can be transformed into a sustainable material for managing oil spills, while also creating opportunities for environmental conservation and community livelihoods.

Building on the theme of sustainable resource utilization, first runners-up, Patience Nduku, a postgraduate student at the Department of Food Science and

*Ms. Patience Nduku a postgraduate student at the department of Food Science and Technology*

Technology, explored ways of increasing the value of potatoes through starch extraction.

Similarly, second runners-up, Anne Muthui, a researcher in the Department of Horticulture and Food Security, developed a data-driven approach to improve potato production. Her study used statistical methods and sensing technologies to support more accurate fertilizer recommendations for farmers in Nyandarua County.

The AFRICA-ai-JAPAN Project Poster Competition, supported by the Government of Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), recognizes outstanding research innovations based on evaluations by a panel of assessors.

The competition provides a platform for researchers and postgraduate students to showcase solutions developed through the project’s four innovation centres, led by JKUAT faculty.

These include the Innovation Centre for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (iCMoB), chaired by Dr. Amos Mbugua; the Innovation Centre for Bio-resources (iCB), chaired by Prof. Daniel Sila; the Innovation Centre for Computing and Technological Solutions (iCCATS), chaired by Prof. Waweru Mwangi; and the Innovation and Prototyping Integrated Centre (iPIC), chaired by Prof. Hiram Ndiritu.

*Ms. Anne Muthui from Horticulture and Food Security department*

The winning project by Ruth was developed under the iPIC, whose focus is on engineering solutions, prototyping and technology development, while both Patience and Anne’s projects were undertaken under iCB, which promotes research and innovation in agriculture, biotechnology and sustainable utilization of biological resources.

The winners were announced during the first meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) of the AFRICA-ai-JAPAN Project held on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

The meeting brought together representatives from the Ministry of Education, the Embassy of Japan in Nairobi, JICA, Pan African University Institute for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation (PAUSTI) and JKUAT.