Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) made a substantial contribution to the 4^th Multisectoral conference and exhibitions on Research, Science, Technology and Innovation conversations, organized by the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) in Naivasha, from June 9 – 12, 2025.

The University was well represented during the RSTI conversations that saw JKUAT Chair of Council, Dr. James Micah Onsando, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi (represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (RPE) Prof. Jackson Kwanza, Prof. Mary Abukutsa and Eng. Benson K. Kariuki, make significant contributions during panel discussion sessions and key note address.

JKUAT was one of the universities that had an opportunity to showcase innovative research outputs under various national project that researchers and innovators are spearheading.

The coconut value chains initiative under the Manufacturing Research Chair (MRC) on productivity and value addition of the coconut, supported by NACOSTI, and the NRF-Upscale African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) Climate Smart Technologies project that is supported by the National Research Fund. The project to upscale the production, preservation and commercialization of African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) in Kenya.

The Manufacturing Research Chair project showcased two innovations: at the exhibition pavilion in Naivasha: the cocopeat product which is used as a media for the propagation of horticultural crops  and an automated coconut scrapper that extracts coconut flesh which is later used to produce various value added coconut-based products.

The technological innovations have been developed by a team of researchers drawn from JKUAT, Moi University and Multimedia University. The Manufacturing Research Chair holder is Prof. Bernard Ikua, Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Administration and Finance.

JKUAT Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Ngumi represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Research, Production and Extension (RPE), Prof. Jackson Kwanza was a panelist. His topic of discussion was: “Novel strategies for securing Intellectual Property Rights in Institutions of Higher Learning.”

Prof. Kwanza outlined strategic areas which are critical in securing Intellectual Property (IPs). The strategies include: robust IP management policy, dedicated technology transfer office, early IP identification and disclosure, regular IP audits, IP education and awareness, legal safeguards in research collaborations, use of digital tools and databases. He also discussed “strategies for IP monetization in institutions of higher learning.”

JKUAT, through the Director, Directorate of Intellectual Property Management and University Industry Liaison (DIPUIL) Eng. Benson K. Kariuki, participated in two sessions:  one of the sessions was a panel discussion on: “Impacts, intellectual property protection and monetization: The case of climate smart agricultural transformation and MSME economy,” under the theme: Intellectual Property, Science, Technology transfer, collaboration and commercialization systems.  

He centred on three key areas noting: Research is a way of generating new knowledge that can be presented in publications in peer refereed journals and in Intellectual Property (IP) Systems. Eng. B.K Kariuki also underscored the importance of Intellectual Property protection in form of IP Rights, noting that “it acts as an incentive to the inventor or innovator in form of exclusive rights limited to a period of time to the inventor or innovator and allows for global disclosure of technical knowledge behind an invention or innovation and especially so for a patent.”

The Director also gave a summary of “provided rights for the IP system and Monetization of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) through Licensing” which he said, could be either exclusive, sole or non-exclusive; assignment which he stated could be through – transfer of the IP right to a third party for a one-off payment under an agreement, as well as Self-exploitation, joint venture. He further made a key note address on: “Reversing the African paradox of low IP registration despite vast resource.”

Prof. Mary Abukutsa of the Department of Horticulture and Food Security and Principal Investigator of the NRF-UPSCALE AIVs Project made a key note presentation on  strides made to upscale the production, preservation and commercialization of African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) using climate smart technologies in Kiambu and Kakamega counties.

Prof. Abukutsa outlined major project achievements including; establishment of Farmer Field Schools (FFS) in Kiambu and Kakamega counties, distribution of 2,000 packets of AIVs seeds, training of 50 ToTs and 600 farmers, upscaling preservation and processing capacity of FFS by 60%, establishment of  a flourishing kitchen garden at Githunguri Level 5 hospital, dissemination of  AIVs information to key stakeholders and draft policy briefs that will be useful in guiding the country’s AIVs value chains.

The Principal Secretary (PS) for Research, Science and Innovation, Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak underscored the strategic importance of the conference within Kenya’s Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) ecosystem, stating that “It offered an opportunity to evaluate the current landscape, identify emerging challenges, and explore new avenues for partnerships and innovations that are aligned with national priorities. The PS, said, the “conference deliberations will directly contribute to strengthening the national innovation system (NIS) and enhancing the uptake of research outputs in addressing socio-economic challenges.”

The Principal Secretary (PS) accompanied by the NRF Board Chair, Prof. Ratemo Michieka, Chairman, Konza Technopolis Development Authority, Prof. Raphael Munavu and JKUAT Council Chair, Dr. Micah Onsando visited the NRF/JKUAT Stand at the exhibition pavilion. They were impressed with innovation and commercialization efforts being made by JKUAT when he officiated at the conference official opening ceremony on June 10, 2025.  The theme of this year’s conference was: Research Technology and Innovations: Impacts, Intellectual Property Protection and Monetization.