The National Research Fund (NRF) organized the first ever Kenya National Research Festival from August 19th – 23rd at the Edge Convention Centre, Nairobi, which brought together stakeholders from academia, private sector, government agencies and departments, universities and research institutions and secondary schools to showcase various innovations through exhibitions and poster presentations.
The JKUAT exhibiting team included Director Research, Dr. Shem Kuyah’s project focusing on the Push-Pull technology for natural pest management, and Prof. Mary Abukutsa of the Department of Horticulture and Food Security whose project focused on indigenous African vegetables.
The research projects captivated the interest of visitors to the JKUAT stand offering them valuable insights into climate
smart sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation.. These studies not only highlighted the ecological benefits but also underscored the potential economic and health advantages of the approaches championed by the innovations.
Other research projects showcased at the exhibition included the innovative robot NAO, programmed by Paul Ndemo, an MSc student at the School of Computing and Information Technology (SCIT); a Wind Turbine designed by David Chitayi from the College of Engineering (COETEC); the Manufacturing Research Chair Coconut project spearheaded by Prof. Bernard Ikua.
Professor Mary Abukutsa was honoured with the “National Outstanding Research Award” in the Biological sciences, technology and innovation category” during the festival for her pioneering research in agricultural sciences, which has focused on promoting the uptake of African indigenous vegetables and plants.
There were also four poster presentations selected by NRF to compete against 30 other researchers. The selected presenters include, Dr. Shem Kuyah from the Botany Department, Dr. Elizabeth Nakhungu of Food Science and Technology, Mr. David Chitayi of Mechanical Engineering Department, and Mr. Paul Kagame, a PhD student, Botany Department.
During the opening ceremony of the festival themed, “Research Partnerships and Collaborations for Socio-Economic Transformation,” Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Higher Education, praised the event for extending science communication beyond traditional research spaces.
She noted that the festival fosters valuable interactions between scientists and the public, broadening the reach and
impact of research efforts, and ultimately building social capacity.
The Chief Guest Mr. Felix Koskei, Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service, emphasized that sound research is critical to national development as it transforms curiosity into knowledge and ultimately into power thus accelerating solutions that are sustainable and pave the way for transformation.
“Addressing global challenges requires solutions from all fields and not just engineering. It is important to harness local knowledge and tackle community specific challenges. In addition, fostering strong collaborations will enhance outcomes and position Kenya as a leader in innovative solutions.”
The festival served as both an educational and competitive platform. JKUAT played a pivotal role in assessing the innovations presented by young scientists from secondary schools.
The evaluation was conducted by a team of distinguished faculty members, including Dr. Michael Kimwele and Dr. Richard Rimiru from SCIT, Dr. Dennis Magu and Dr. George Makaliwa from the School of Public Health and Dr. Kimtai Ngoret from the School of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering.
During the awards ceremony, Mr. Fredrick Ndambuki, Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Education reiterated the need for to address challenges on how scientists can effectively disseminate research knowledge.
“There is need to look for a way to impart soft skills among scientists so that they are able to simplify the complex concepts so that the information can reach all stakeholders, especially the policy makers who need it to make informed decisions, Mr. Ndambuki noted.
