This archive report was first published on 3 August 2019.
On August 3, 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta called for concerted efforts to safeguard transformative innovations by young Kenyans.
Speaking at the Young Scientists Kenya National and Technology Exhibition at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, President Kenyatta directed the Education and Trade Ministries to put in place a robust mechanism for securing scientific ideas, projects, and innovations by the Kenyan youth.
The President emphasized that the country's future lies in scientific innovations and that the government is implementing the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC) to keep up with the fast-changing world.
He announced plans to hold a national business bootcamp within the next 9 months to refine viable innovations into commercial projects and directed the Kenya Intellectual Property Rights Office to offer free patents to viable innovations generated during YSK exhibitions.
President Kenyatta also directed a waiver of trademark fees with respect to all innovations emanating from Young Scientists Exhibitions, beginning from 2018.
He challenged young scientists to develop innovations aligned to the country's Big 4 and Vision 2030 development agenda, focusing on cost-effective innovations for enhancing food and nutrition security, housing, universal healthcare, and manufacturing.
