Four Kenyan innovators making change happen

Africa continually looks to its younger generation to use innovative approaches to tackle pertinent problems across the continent. From housing to employment, ideas and inventions are needed to solve social problems, create employment and inspire others to do the same. In Kenya, these amazing innovators are catalysing the innovation spirit in Africa to make change happen.

1. Beth Koigi – as a student in the university, Beth had trouble accessing clean water. Since then, Beth has committed nearly a decade to providing affordable, clean drinking water for communities in Kenya. In 2017 Beth founded Majik Water that harvests water from air, making it available and affordable especially for off-grid communities in Kenya. Majik Water uses Water ATMs to allow people get water from its tanks in desired quantities. 

   

2. Hope Mwanake – as an environmental scientist running a waste collection service in Kenya’s central town of Gilgil, Hope and her team challenged themselves to find a suitable use for the mountain of waste deposited by residents and businesses in the area. Hope and her business partner, Kevin Mureithi, founded Eco Blocks and Tiles in 2016, Kenya’s first company to manufacture roof tiles and other construction materials from plastic and glass waste. So far, they have turned more than 56 tonnes of plastic waste into 75,000 tiles for 30 homes and businesses.
    

   

3. Kamau Gachigi – is an engineer in Nairobi, Kenya and the founder of Gearbox, an innovation lab helping entrepreneurs with equipment and support to realize their concepts. Gearbox offers access to materials and equipment including 3D printing, laser cutting and electronic circuitry at a high-tech, 20,000-square-foot shared maker-space. It helps cut costs for inventors by providing access to assembly machines through a membership model. Kenyan innovator Roy Allela, who wanted to find a better way for his niece who was born deaf and other deaf children to communicate, used Gearbox to develop Sign-IO, a set of high-tech gloves that convert sign language into audio.
    

   

4. Collince Osewe – working as a vaccination volunteer, Collince experienced difficulties with administering his duties. He created Chanjo Plus, an online system that helps caregivers and healthcare workers maintain records and keep children up to date with their necessary vaccinations. Chanjo Plus is also built into Kenya’s national healthcare system, helping to yield far-reaching, life-saving results.