Archive · 2026
Theme: “Sustainable Innovations for Climate Change Resilience”
The 7th Annual University of Eldoret Innovation Week and Public Lecture took place from 4 to 6 February 2026 at the New Site Building, University of Eldoret, under the theme “Sustainable Innovations for Climate Change Resilience”.
Innovation Week
Multi-day intensive capacity building workshop running from Monday, February 2 through Wednesday, February 4 at 2:00 PM. Closed session for registered participants.
Responsibility: Kenya Science Leadership Program Team
Virtual keynote presentation sharing practical insights and experiences from building a successful green technology company in Kenya.
Exploring how the Kenya National Innovation Agency supports and accelerates youth-led innovations across the country.
Student teams pitch their climate-smart innovations for sustainable development. Live audience voting will determine the winners. Judges panel includes industry experts and innovation leaders.
Final deliberations by the judges panel and announcement of live voting results from the audience.
Day 1 closing remarks, prayers and group photo
University of Eldoret leadership taking part in the programme
Vice-Chancellor
University of Eldoret
Prof. Thomas Cheruiyot is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Eldoret, providing strategic leadership and overseeing the university's commitment to innovation, research, and academic excellence.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Planning, Research & Extension)
University of Eldoret
Prof. Phillip Raburu serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Planning, Research & Extension at the University of Eldoret. He oversees research initiatives, innovation programs, and the university's engagement with industry and community partners.
Keynote presentations, seminars and invited talks
Keynote Speaker
Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder
Zalika Greentech Ltd
Sam Okemwa, GE, a former student leader at UOE and ESA President, is a seasoned professional with a passion for innovation and sustainability. As the Director at Zalika Greentech LTD, he combines engineering expertise with a relentless drive for innovation. His keynote presentation "Lessons from my Innovation Journey" shares insights from his experience in harnessing technology and artificial intelligence to create cutting-edge environmental solutions.
Keynote Speaker
Senior Innovation Officer - StartUp Economy Development and Management
Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA)
Philip Gondi works on startup economy development, ecosystem strengthening and applied innovation systems. His work focuses on building inclusive and scalable pathways that enable startups, students and institutions to translate ideas into viable ventures. At KeNIA, Philip plays a key role in the design and implementation of national innovation programs. He is the Project Manager for the JICA - KeNIA Startup Ecosystem Enhancement (SEE) Project, a regional programme covering Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia, supporting initiatives that strengthen innovation infrastructure, improve founder investment readiness and enhance coordination across ecosystem actors. His work bridges institutions and market facing entrepreneurship support across the region. Philip has also been instrumental in advancing frameworks and tools that support the commercialization of research, corporate startup collaboration and institutional innovation maturity, including the Entrepreneurial Institutions Maturity Framework (EIMF) and the Enterprise Support Organizations Maturity Framework (ESOMF). These tools are used to improve how innovation support is delivered, measured and scaled across organizations. Beyond national programs, Philip leads student entrepreneurship and early-stage innovation. He spearheads the rollout of Student Led Innovation Clubs, an initiative launched across 11 universities, aimed at nurturing problem solving, venture thinking and peer led innovation within higher education institutions. Philip is also involved in leading convening ecosystem wide platforms such as the Kenya Startup Festival, bringing together government, universities, private sector actors, funders and innovators to align efforts toward innovation driven economic development. With experience spanning innovation policy, stakeholder engagement and venture support, Philip brings a system level perspective grounded in field level realities, connecting national innovation strategies to the lived experiences of startups, students and ecosystem builders.
Keynote Speaker
Principal Secretary - State Department for Higher Education & Research
Ministry of Education, Republic of Kenya
Dr. Beatrice Muganda Inyangala is the Principal Secretary, State Department for Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Kenya. She is a passionate educator and leader who is committed to transforming higher education and its impact on the continent and globally. Prior to her appointment she worked for the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR); a pan-African not for profit organization for 11 years, and exited as the Deputy Executive Director. Her accomplishments through the Pedagogical Leadership in Africa (PedaL) project are internationally acclaimed. She has extensive knowledge of actors, issues, challenges and opportunities in African higher education and has trained over 3,000 teaching staff in 91 universities in 11 African countries in innovative pedagogies. She has contributed immensely to the formulation of education policy and participated in education policy debates within the region and globally: Association of African Universities; EU-Africa policy dialogues; London School of Economics Africa Summit, among others. She holds a B.Ed and M. Phil in Planning and Economics of Education, Moi University, Kenya; PhD from the University of Athens, and has received further training at the International Institute of Educational Planning in Paris, France.
Keynote Speaker
Program Manager
Waziup e.V.
Joseph Shitote is a Program Manager at Waziup e.V., specializing in innovative digital tools and services for building capacity in emerging technologies. He focuses on digital transformation and empowering communities through technology adoption and capacity building programs.
Speaker
Senior Lecturer
University of Eldoret
Dr. Florence Wamunga co-moderates the Innovation Challenge Pitching Competition, facilitating the climate-smart innovations presentations.
Speaker
Senior Lecturer
University of Eldoret
Dr. Peter Ouma co-moderates the Innovation Challenge Pitching Competition, guiding the presentations and judging process.
Speaker
Chief Executive Officer
Green Drive (EA) Ltd
David Jesse is the CEO of Green Drive (EA) Ltd with a burning passion to bring change to communities through lifestyle change, better consumptive behavior and organizational leadership. He champions clean energy and environmental conservation, contributing towards a well-coordinated renewable energy sector in Kenya and East Africa. He serves as consulting Senior Advisor for Kenya Biogas Stakeholders Network (BIO-NET) and Director of FDE Nairobi City Network. He sits on various executive and advisory boards including KEPSA Energy Sector Board (ESB Bioenergy), Kenya National Industrial Training Institute (NITA), and Kenya Green Action in Schools and Colleges (Green_LEARN). Green Drive (EA) Ltd collaborates with Renewable Energy practitioners to promote harmonious industry in Energy, Environment and Ecosystems.
Speaker
Senior Lecturer
University of Eldoret
Dr. Jafred Muyaka co-moderates the panel discussion on "Sustainable Innovations for Climate-Change Resilience," facilitating dialogue between expert panelists.
Speaker
Senior Lecturer
University of Eldoret
Dr. Grace Mureithi co-moderates the panel discussion on sustainable innovations and delivers the vote of thanks at the closing ceremony.
Speaker
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Mzuri Organics
Allan Ligare is a pioneer in agrobiologicals and circular farming. As Founder and CEO of Mzuri Organics, he transforms agricultural and domestic waste into insect- and worm-based biofertilizers, promoting regenerative agriculture and climate-smart food systems. He currently leads the GIZ Biz-Ingira project, empowering youth and women through green enterprise. Allan also serves on the boards of the East Africa Entrepreneurs Association (EAEA) and the Association of Insect Farming and Its Products (AIFIP). He holds a degree in Environmental Science and is pursuing a Master's in Agronomy.
Speaker
Full Professor
Department of Biotechnology, University of Eldoret
Prof. Kinyua is a globally recognized contributor to food security through plant breeding and biotechnology. She has received the Presidential Order of Grand Warrior award and the International Award for Women in Mutation Breeding by FAO/IAEA. She holds over 15 plant breeders' rights including mutant wheat varieties (Eldo Mavuno, Eldo Baraka), potato varieties (Eldo-Amani, Eldo Bidii, Eldo Fanaka), cassava lines, dolichos varieties, and pyrethrum varieties (Kent 1-4). With over 100 publications including 3 books, she has been awarded more than 20 research projects and has conducted expert missions across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Prof. Kinyua holds a PhD in Plant Breeding, MSc in Plant Breeding and Genetics, and BSc in Agriculture, all from the University of Nairobi.
Speaker
Senior Lecturer
University of Eldoret
Dr. Emmy Chepkoech coordinates program activities during the 7th Annual Innovation Week and delivers opening prayers and closing remarks.
