Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), through the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs, welcomed a delegation of staff and students from Nagasaki University, Japan, to explore opportunities for strengthening academic and research collaboration between the two institutions.
Led by Prof. Kiyoshi Omine, the delegation paid a courtesy call to the University on Friday, August 28, 2026, during a visit organized by the Institute of Energy and Environmental Engineering (IEET). The visit focused on a proposed collaboration under the Joint Research Activity Course of Japan’s Sakura Science Programme, scheduled for February 2027.
The programme seeks to bring together young researchers from different disciplines to exchange knowledge and experiences while developing practical approaches to contemporary challenges in energy, environmental management and sustainable development, with potential applications in agriculture and rural communities.
Speaking when he hosted the delegation, Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Prof. Thuku Thiong’o, underscored JKUAT’s commitment to international partnerships noting that JKUAT was established through cooperation between the Government of Kenya and the Government of Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
He observed that the proposed engagement provides an opportunity to build on the longstanding relationship by connecting researchers and students from the two institutions around emerging challenges and practical solutions.
Prof. Thiong’o further noted that environmental research at JKUAT cuts across several colleges and disciplines, creating a strong foundation for multidisciplinary collaboration.
The Principal, College of Engineering and Technology (COETEC), Prof. Hiram Ndiritu, welcomed the proposed collaboration, noting that technologies such as carbonization offer promising approaches to managing organic waste while creating opportunities for value addition and sustainable resource utilisation.
He observed that the collaboration also provides an opportunity for JKUAT to further cement the longstanding relationship with Japan, which include long- and short-term training programmes that have contributed to skills and capacity development among students and faculty.
The Director, IEET, Dr. Paul Njogu, highlighted the Institute’s research and training capacity in areas including climate change, environmental management, occupational safety and health, through its postgraduate programmes and short courses.
He said these areas provide several entry points for collaboration with Nagasaki University, particularly in developing technologies and research approaches that can be translated into practical solutions for communities.
Dr. Njogu also noted IEET’s existing engagements with Japanese companies, which could provide additional opportunities for linking academic research with industry and technology development.
He cited the BRIGHT Project, implemented with support from JICA between 2013 and 2017, as an example of the Institute’s previous collaboration with Japan. The project facilitated research and technology development around the production of clean gas for rural communities.
Prof. Omine, who presented one of Nagasaki University’s innovations during the meeting, shared research on a high-performance carbonization machine capable of processing organic waste. The technology has potential to convert organic materials that would otherwise be discarded into useful carbon-based products, providing an avenue for waste reduction, resource recovery and value addition.
Notably, Prof. Omine said he was particularly impressed by JKUAT’s body of research publications on carbonization, noting that the existing research provides a strong basis for joint investigations and knowledge exchange.
He expressed optimism that bringing together the two institutions’ expertise could accelerate the development and application of carbonization technologies, particularly in addressing waste management and sustainability challenges.
The proposed Sakura Science collaboration is therefore expected to provide a platform for young researchers to move beyond knowledge exchange and explore how research and technology can respond to real-world environmental and energy needs.
The meeting, moderated by Ms. Purity Muthoni of IEET, was attended by the Registrar, Academic Affairs, Dr. Aggrey Wanyama; Manager, Engineering Workshops, Dr. Daniel Omondi; JICA Expert, Dr. Shorhei Aoki; Dr. Robert Nesta, a Nagasaki University alumnus who has spearheaded an existing Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions; Dr. Josephine Karanja, representing the Director, Research; and other University staff.
