SoBEE has been the leading in innovations and research and gives opportunities for students to become more innovative and develop new ideas. Innovations in greenhouses, solar driers, coolers, bio-diesel production, and water harvesting, agricultural machinery etc. represent some of the departmental works.
Shujaa Tractor
The Shujaa tractor is a groundbreaking agricultural machine developed specifically for small-scale farmers in Kenya. This locally designed tractor is the result of a collaborative effort between Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and other international partners like SRISTI and USAID India. It aims to revolutionize farm mechanization by providing an affordable alternative to traditional methods that often rely on unreliable animal draft power or manual labor.

One of the key features of the Shujaa tractor is its efficient power output, delivering 10.5 HP with plans for future upgrades to higher capacities. Additionally, it boasts impressive fuel efficiency, consuming approximately six liters of diesel per acre for ploughing—a significant reduction in operational costs compared to larger tractors. The versatility of this multipurpose tractor allows it to perform a wide range of farm operations including ploughing, harrowing, ridging, planting, transportation, spraying agrochemicals, and powering water pumps via its PTO system. This adaptability makes it an invaluable asset for small-scale farmers who need flexibility in managing their land efficiently.
Low-Cost Drilling Rig
Done in collaboration with Pen state university, the rig provides a cheap affordable way of drilling for water. It also aims at provision of job opportunities for the youth.

Our low-cost drilling rig is designed to provide an affordable solution for drilling operations while maintaining efficiency and reliability. It incorporates cost-effective design principles including simplified mechanical components, reduced part counts, and efficient operational systems that minimize non-productive time. The rig can be optimized for specific applications such as shallow drilling or small-scale projects where high horsepower is not required. It can also utilize locally sourced materials or refurbished parts to keep costs down without compromising performance. The rig aims to offer a practical alternative for users who need reliable drilling capabilities at a lower investment compared to more complex or high-capacity rigs typically used in large-scale industrial settings.
Solar Dryers
Solar dryers used in agriculture for food and crop drying, for industrial drying process, dryers can be proved to be most useful device from energy conservation point of view. It not only saves energy but also save lot of time, occupying less area, improves quality of the product, make the process more efficient and protects environment also. The introduction of low cost and locally manufactured solar driers offer a promising alternative to reduce tremendous post-harvest losses.

Solar dryers are innovative devices that harness the power of solar energy to dry various substances, particularly food items. These systems operate by converting sunlight into heat, which is then trapped and utilized to evaporate moisture from the materials being dried. At their core, solar dryers rely on a simple yet effective principle: they use black surfaces to absorb sunlight efficiently, converting it into heat. The next step involves trapping this heat inside the dryer using transparent covers such as glass or plastic sheets. The final step in this process involves transferring the trapped heat to the substance being dried through convection—either naturally or forced with fans.
Charcoal Coolers
Charcoal coolers, also known as charcoal-powered refrigeration systems, are simple yet effective devices used to preserve perishable items without electricity.

These coolers operate on the principle of evaporative cooling, leveraging the same mechanism that cools humans through sweating. When warm air passes over moist charcoal, it absorbs heat from its surroundings to evaporate water, resulting in a cooling effect inside the cooler. One of the most appealing advantages is their low cost and accessibility. Since they can be constructed using locally available materials such as timber frames filled with charcoal, these coolers are affordable for communities that might otherwise struggle to afford traditional refrigeration systems. Another key benefit lies in their environmental sustainability. Charcoal coolers offer an eco-friendly alternative to conventional refrigeration methods, which often rely on electricity generated from non-renewable sources or use harmful chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Furthermore, charcoal coolers provide versatility in terms of design and application. They can be adapted into various forms ranging from small tabletop units suitable for household use to larger walk-in rooms capable of storing substantial quantities of perishables—making them adaptable to different needs and settings.
In manufacturing industries SoBEE has been able to produce low cost and effective innovative machinery for post-harvest processes including Nut crackers, Rice Threshers, Oil Expellers, Honey Extractors among many others. The school is always developing new ideas to improve processing as well as solving some of the problems faced in the agricultural, processing and manufacturing industries.