Nairobi, Kenya-President William Ruto has launched the Presidential Innovation Award to recognize the most promising innovations in the country, saying that the provision of incentives and scaling up funding in innovation will expand opportunities for the youth.
“We have no choice except to recognise innovation as a promising instrument for unlocking the doors of unprecedented opportunities,” Ruto explained.
He was speaking during the official opening of the 2023 Kenya Innovation Week, Commonwealth Edition held at the College of Insurance in Nairobi. Those who qualify for the presidential award will be awarded during the Jamhuri Day celebrations.
Ruto said that that this year’s edition will consider submissions from all counties, covering food security and agriculture, digital transformation, healthcare, entertainment and gaming, climate action, and green energy.
The president observed that young people play a vital role in driving innovation within Kenya’s economy, saying that youth-driven start-ups secured 700 million US dollars last year, positioning Kenya as a leading investment hub in Africa.
For this reason, he went on to explain that the government is deliberately promoting the innovative mindset from an early age through the competence-based curriculum.
“The objective is to facilitate the rapid development of a sustainable pipeline of globally competitive innovators,” he added.
The president also said the government is facilitating access to quality infrastructure, financing, and training for youth to enhance inclusivity in innovation.
Those present during this year’s Kenyan Innovation Week included the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Patricia Scotland, cabinet secretaries, and various stakeholders.
