Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and Samsung Electronics East Africa have launched the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC), a joint programme designed to equip Kenyan youth with advanced digital skills and strengthen the country’s edge in the global technology space.
The Campus, launched on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at JKUAT’s main campus introduces a globally recognized Samsung training model to Kenya, offering young people practical skills in Coding and Programming, Artificial Intelligence, and, in later phases, Internet of Things and Cybersecurity. At least 80 learners are expected to benefit from the programme each year.
The Samsung Innovation Campus will be co-hosted at JKUAT’s School of Computing and Information Technology and JHUB Africa, a dedicated innovation and incubation hub. JHUB supports training, mentorship, start-ups, and incubation, providing an ideal environment for SIC by combining academic learning with market-oriented innovation and entrepreneurship.
Speaking during the launch, Vice Chancellor Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi said the collaboration marks a significant moment for the university and Kenya’s broader digital transformation.
“Today marks a defining moment in the history of JKUAT. This programme is a strategic investment in Kenya’s future, because these skills are the engines of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” said Prof. Ngumi.
Prof. Ngumi noted that Samsung selected JKUAT based on its infrastructure, national mandate and strong track record in delivering high-quality, industry-aligned training. She added that the programme is deliberately designed to benefit underserved youth and achieve gender inclusion, with at least half of all trainees expected to be women.
She also highlighted the partnership’s strong governance framework, including provisions on data protection, transparency and ethical standards.
Principal of the College of Pure and Applied Sciences, Prof. George Thuku Thiong’o represented the Vice Chancellor and read her speech during the forum.
Samsung Electronics East Africa was represented by Philip Karanja, Director of Finance for East & Central Africa, on behalf of Richard Lee, President of Samsung Electronics East Africa.
Speaking at the event, Karanja reaffirmed Samsung’s confidence in JKUAT’s capabilities and long-term commitment to nurturing Africa’s next generation of tech innovators.
“Samsung reaffirms its confidence in JKUAT’s capacity and long-term commitment to nurturing Africa’s next generation of tech innovators,” he said.
He added that the partnership benefits from JKUAT’s strong infrastructure, industry-aligned training record, and robust governance framework, including provisions for data protection, transparency, and ethical standards.
Dr. Lawrence Nderu, founder of JHUB Africa, put the scale of the programme into perspective, noting that students will gain industry-ready skills from both JKUAT lecturers and Samsung experts who are directly involved in training.
“This collaboration gives students a rare opportunity to learn directly from industry professionals while applying their skills in real-world settings,” he said.
He added that the practical edge of the programme massively raises the Kenya’s tech talent pipeline.
