The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Her Excellency Dr. Nataša Pirc Musar, on Monday June 2, 2025 inaugurated a climate change adaptation unit at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. Dubbed Conduit@Empathy, the facility comprises satellite and digital technologies for human and planet friendly management of water, environment and climate actions.
The climate hub is a joint initiative between JHUB Africa (an innovation and technology hub based at JKUAT) and Slovenia’s SPACE-SI (Centre of Excellence for Space Sciences and Technologies). It is an ambitious initiative to showcase how societies can leverage digital technologies to analyse conditions obtaining in river basin systems including water quality, state of vegetation, urban infrastructure as well as maritime traffic.
Addressing dignitaries, staff and students at JKUAT, President Musar noted that climate change had become a major existential threat for humanity, with countries, including Slovenia, bearing the brunt of climate induced disasters. She strongly called for additional efforts on climate action, particularly those capable of cushioning developing countries from climate vagaries.
The Slovenian leader called on young people to proactively deploy their knowledge, and experience to innovate, as part of being part of the change they all yearn for. She added that Slovenia was among the few countries in the world which now looks at climate change a human rights issue.
Dr. Beatrice Muganda Inyangala, Principal Secretary, State Department for Higher Education and Research, Ministry of Education said that the inauguration of the Conduit@Empthy, represents collective will to make data accessible, to infuse science with human meaning, and to connect technological tools with social purpose.
Dr. Inyangala who represented the Education Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Julius Migos Ogamba at the event added that Kenya is open for innovation and partnerships that deepen digital capabilities while uplifting people.
“This is how we build a data-driven nation—by ensuring that our universities are not just places of theory, but engines of practical solutions for issues like water scarcity and management, climate change preparedness, agricultural planning, and disaster risk reduction,” Dr. Inyangala said.
JKUAT Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi noted that the current world faces many complex, interwoven challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and growing inequalities. As a solutions oriented university, Prof. Ngumi added that JKUAT through JHUB-Africa, was advancing Kenya’s role in data-driven climate resilience and environmental stewardship.
Calling the Slovenia-Kenya partnership a shining example of what people-to-people diplomacy looks like in the 21st Century, Prof. Ngumi said that JKUAT will host community training, run national seminars, support county-level integration, and co-create ecosystem services in partnership with agencies.
Kiambu County Governor Kimani Wamatangi lauded the inauguration of the climate hub at JKUAT, noting that the university had played a key role in disseminating key technologies to the local community, besides producing quality human capital for the county and country at large.
Kenya and other African countries have come under the heavy assault by climate change, despite the continent being the least emitter of Greenhouse gases. Extreme weather conditions such as long droughts, and flush floods have led to failed harvests, destruction of infrastructure and challenges to human health. The newly established Conduit@Empathy at JKUAT will be crucial in generating crucial data points that could help the state to undertake surveillance, decision making and resource allocation for effective climate action.
As a leading voice in the global efforts to tackle climate change, Slovenia, through its international development cooperation, prioritizes projects that promote environmental stewardship, advance gender equality and strengthen community resilience. The emphasis remains on supporting locally led solutions that empower communities, especially women and youth to be at the forefront of change
The event was also attended by several high profile guests including Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Barasa; European Union envoy to Kenya, Henriette Geiger; Kiambu Women Representative, Anne Wamuratha; UN Resident Coordinator in kenya, Stephen Jackson; WFP Country Director, Lauren Landis and JKUAT Council members.
