This week, KEPSA through the Ajira Digital Program took part in the Kenya Innovation Week 2024 under the theme, "Re-imagining Africa's Future: Kenya's Innovation Spark". The Event organized by the Kenya National Innovation Agency, that was officially opened by H.E. Dr. William Samoei Ruto, C.G.H, gathered delegates from over 30 Countries, visionaries, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and global innovation industry leaders to evaluate, celebrate, and enhance the evolution of Kenya's National Innovation Ecosystem. To this end, the forum served as a platform to facilitate impactful discussions and networking; sparking innovative approaches to tackle Africa's urgent challenges for socio-economic growth. Also gracing the event was the Hon. Kipchumba Murkomen, Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports and the Nairobi County Governor, Johnson Sakaja among other leaders.

This year's edition shone a spotlight on Kenya's dynamic and rapidly evolving innovation landscape and its significant role in developing the African continent. With a focus on driving sustainable development and creating innovative solutions for some of the continent’s most pressing challenges, this event provided a unique opportunity to network, learn, and contribute to shaping the future of innovation to foster research-led commercialisation of innovative ideas, with the potential to significantly impact the contribution of Kenya's innovation ecosystem to the African innovation landscape.

While giving his key remarks during the opening ceremony, H.E. Dr. William Samoei Ruto emphasized the important role of innovation in creating opportunities. He highlighted that the event, featuring over 25 summits, workshops, and bootcamps, served as a platform for dynamic exchanges that challenge old ideas and transform them into innovative start-ups. These ventures, he noted, have the potential to scale into major firms, generate value, create jobs, and build wealth.

‘Everyday, we must confront the stark fact that unemployment remains a pressing issue in Kenya and in many African countries. The shape of the crisis is undeniable here: With between 500,000 and 800,000 youth entering Kenya’s job market annually, creating sustainable enterprises which can generate quality jobs is a critical imperative. Innovation can no longer be a discretionary consideration; rather, it is now an indispensable component of efforts to promote inclusive growth and uplift the well-being of the majority of our people. It is through initiatives like the Silicon Savannah and Kenya Innovation Week that we refocus our dedication to leveraging technology and innovation to create opportunities, bridge the yawning gap of economic inequality and drive our nations to prosperity.’ Said Dr William.

Additionally, Ruto affirmed Kenya’s commitment to improving its standing in the Global Innovation Index through decisive measures and collaboration. To achieve this, he stated the government will prioritize expanding entrepreneurial training, supporting university spin-offs, and reinforcing legal frameworks like the Start-Up Bill and the National Intellectual Property Policy. He called on all stakeholders; government, private sector, higher education, and development partners, to remain united in their efforts to promote innovation. He highlighted that a robust innovation ecosystem would position Kenya as a leader in job creation, attract investments, and drive sustainable development.

Speaking during the Innovation Ecosystem Summit Sponsored by Ajira Digital Program and its implementing partners (Mastercard Foundation & eMobilis) Gracemary Muchiri, the Ajira Digital Program Manager at KEPSA noted the importance of innovation clustering as a critical driver for Africa's future success in innovation. Highlighting the role of the Ajira Digital Program, she explained how it addresses the issue of unemployment among Kenya’s large youth population through collaboration with stakeholders. Since its inception, the program has significantly contributed to the growth of the online workforce, increasing from about 600,000 in 2019 to an impressive 2.4 million people working online today.

‘As part of KEPSA's mandate, our efforts are detailed to catalyze demand for digital skills by connecting skilled youth with businesses and encouraging companies to outsource skilled-talent. KEPSA collaborates closely with the Ministry of Information Communication and Digital Economy and other partners to sustain this growth and ensure youth are equipped for emerging opportunities. An example of how important these collaborations are is a successful initiative with the Judiciary, where we helped with digitization of 482 court systems, not only to streamline transcription and data management but also by creating over 3,000 job opportunities for young people. This initiative has continued to serve as a blueprint for other public institutions on how they can digitize operations effectively, showcasing the power of collaboration among stakeholders, including the government, academia, and private sector, to achieve meaningful milestones’ said Gracemary.

The Judiciary Digitization Pilot and the Government of Kenya Outsourcing Blueprint represent critical components of Kenya's digital transformation strategy. These initiatives not only exemplify the government's commitment to leveraging technology and innovative outsourcing models for public sector improvement but also highlight the significant strides made towards creating employment opportunities, enhancing service delivery, and promoting gender equality. As these programs continue to evolve, they will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Kenya's digital economy and its position as a leader in digital innovation and public sector efficiency on the African continent.

Also speaking during the innovation summit was Mr. Stanley Kamanguya - CEO, ICT Authority who emphasized the importance of accelerating economic growth, enhancing competitiveness, and promoting social inclusion through the realization of a fully digitalized economy. He outlined key steps to achieve this vision through development of a comprehensive plan to guide the digital transformation journey, bridging the digital divide and the role of entrepreneurship and innovation leveraging technology as an effective way to accelerate innovation.

‘There is no better way to accelerate innovation than by leveraging technology. To make this happen, we must allocate more resources to research and development because too many innovations fail to last simply because they lack a foundation in research. Furthermore, we need to support innovators by creating a more enabling ecosystem. Platforms like this one are essential, but we must also think beyond; building digital platforms that connect innovators to global markets and investors across the globe, this also creates awareness and visibility of the innovations we have to offer.’ Said Stanley.

The summit also included a panel session on the topic of Innovation clustering in Kenya. The panel session moderated by Mr Tonny Omwanswa, CEO, Kenya National Agency of Innovation highlighted the need to maximize the potential of innovation clusters, and how it is essential to focus on regional specialization, supportive policies like the Start-Up Bill, and robust infrastructure such as innovation hubs and high-speed internet. Key strategies mentioned include fostering university-led research, attracting investments, and prioritizing sectors aligned with national goals, such as renewable energy and the digital economy. Additionally, global connectivity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community engagement can ensure that clusters are inclusive and competitive on a global scale. Tracking their impact on job creation and economic performance will further ensure their effectiveness in driving Kenya's innovation agenda.

This event provided a unique opportunity to network, learn, and contribute to shaping the future of innovation.